Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States (DCA)
Finland and the United States have negotiated on a new bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement. Concluding the negotiations is an objective included in Finland’s new Government Programme. The Finnish Parliament needs to accept the agreement before it can be adopted. The agreement will reinforce Finland's security and promote the fulfilment of NATO membership obligations. Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the agreement in Washington DC on 18 December 2023. The Finnish Parliament needs to authorise the agreement before it can be adopted.
Text of the Agreement
What is the agreement about?
Security and defence cooperation between Finland and the United States is long-term cooperation (Link to another website.)based on shared needs and objectives, which has been carried out between the defence administrations and with other parties. In August 2022, Finland opened negotiations with the United States on a new bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA). The first round of negotiations was conducted in March 2023, and an outcome was reached in October 2023. The President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy decided in favour of approving the outcome of the negotiations in November 2023. Parliament was kept informed of the progress of the negotiations.
The United States is one of Finland’s key allies, and concluding the Defence Cooperation Agreement is one of the objectives laid down in the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government. The DCA is a binding international agreement that sets forth an up-to-date framework for cooperation between Finland and the United States. The provisions of the DCA are mainly based on the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (NATO SOFA). The DCA clarifies the rules for cooperation and allows the parties to deepen cooperation in all security situations. The DCA will reinforce Finland’s security and contribute to the fulfilment of Finland’s obligations as a member of NATO.
The DCA deals with practical aspects of issues such as the entry of troops, the storage of defence materiel, criminal jurisdiction and taxation. The DCA specifies the areas where the cooperation and collaboration between Finland and the United States would primarily focus. The agreed areas are listed in the Annex to the DCA. Going forward, the DCA will enable the United States to make use of Congress funding for possible infrastructure investments in Finland.
Finland’s membership in NATO will not diminish the importance of bilateral cooperation with the United States. Instead, it will open up new opportunities and promote Finland’s contribution to NATO’s collective defence. The change in the security environment in Finland and Europe as a result of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine further emphasises the importance of bilateral cooperation that fits a range of different security situations.
Several other NATO countries have a similar bilateral agreement with the United States. Of the Nordic and Baltic countries, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania already have an agreement in place. Sweden signed an agreement on 5 December 2023. Denmark is currently finalising its agreement.
The negotiations were conducted by a delegation appointed by the President of the Republic(Link to another website.). The entire central government participated extensively in the delegation’s work. Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the agreement in Washington DC on 18 December 2023. Parliament needs to authorise the agreement before it can be adopted.
Stages of the approval process
- A joint meeting of the President and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy outlines the agreement.
- Parliament is informed of the outcome of the negotiations (sections 47 and 97 of the Constitution).
- The President of the Republic, on the basis of a presentation by the Government, grants an authorisation to sign the agreement. The agreement becomes a public document.
- The agreement is signed.
- The Government plenary session submits to Parliament a government proposal for the acceptance and bringing into force of the agreement.
- Parliament gives its reply on the government proposal.
- The President of the Republic approves the agreement on the proposal of the Government. Finland and the United States exchange notes, informing each other of the completion of the national procedures.
- The agreement enters into force internationally within a period specified in the agreement after the Parties have informed each other of the completion of the national procedures to bring the agreement into force.
- The agreement is brought into force in Finland by an act of Parliament and by Government decree.