Finland and U.S. negotiate bilateral agreement that would allow U.S. troop deployment on Finnish territory

Following Finland’s accession to NATO, Helsinki and Washington have been negotiating a bilateral agreement that would allow the U.S. to use Finnish military bases, writes the publication Helsingin Sanomat.

The agreement would reportedly allow the U.S. to station equipment and build infrastructure on Finnish territory, though the exact parameters of the deal are not yet known. BBC News Russia says that the agreement would permit the U.S. to establish military bases in Finland.

According to Helsingin Sanomat, the proposed agreement would be similar to deals the U.S. has with other NATO countries, such as Norway, where the U.S. military has invested $170 million into an airport it uses near Oslo.

Mikael Antell, deputy head of the Finnish Foreign Ministry’s political department, confirmed that negotiations on the agreement are currently underway. He did not disclose any details, but stressed that the agreement would ensure smooth and rapid cooperation with the U.S.