The United States and Finland enjoy an enduring partnership and friendship. Our security partnership has broadened and deepened since 1994, when Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Partnership for Peace program. Finland was designated a NATO Enhanced Opportunity Partner (EOP), the Alliance’s highest-tiered partnership status, at the 2014 Wales Summit. The United States works with Alliance members and EOPs like Finland to strengthen regional security and improve collaboration in the areas of security cooperation, defense trade, non-proliferation, military exercises, training and defense posture, counterterrorism, cyber and border security, and to counter emerging or hybrid threats.
The United States and Finland are both members of the Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (E-PINE), along with Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Together we support the shared vision of a whole Europe free, and at peace.
The United States has $1.8 billion in active government-to-government sales cases with Finland under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system. FMS cases notified to Congress are listed, and recent and significant sales include: Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems; and AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air (AMRAAM) Missiles; AGM-158 Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff (JASSM) Missiles; and RGM-84Q-4 Harpoon Block II, Stinger Block 1, and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles. We are committed to further deepening defense cooperation and Finland’s defense modernization, as seen in the Government of Finland’s decision to select the F-35 Lightning Joint Strike Fighter for its HX Fighter Program. The United States is proud to have provided Finland with world-class aircraft over the past three decades, supporting Finland’s national security and providing Finland with economic and technological benefits.
From CY 2016 through CY 2020, the United States also authorized the permanent export of over $145 million in defense articles to Finland via the Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) process. The top categories of DCS to Finland were Military Electronics ($59.6 million); Ammunition and Ordnance ($30.3 million); and Firearms, Close Assault Weapons and Combat Shotguns ($18.4 million).
In 2005, the United States and Finland signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Air Force activities and exercises in Finland, followed by an Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) in 2008. In 2016, Finland and the United States signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) to enhance our defense partnership and improve our defense cooperation through a wide range of areas, including defense capability and readiness and exchange of information at strategic and operational levels. In 2018, the United States, Finland, and Sweden signed an additional SOI to expand trilateral dialogue on defense policy, improve interoperability, enhance situational awareness in the Baltic Sea region, and strengthen military capabilities and defense posture.
Finland hosts the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, which focuses on building the capacity of EU and NATO states’ to prevent and counter hybrid threats by sharing best practices, testing new ideas and approaches, and hosting joint training courses and exercises. Finland is also part of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, a multinational and interdisciplinary cyber defense hub.
Finland is part of the NATO Response Force (NRF), a highly ready and technologically advanced, multinational force made up of land, air, maritime, and Special Operations Forces (SOF) components the Alliance can deploy quickly, wherever needed. It regularly contributed troops to NATO training missions like International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Resolute Support in Afghanistan, as well as to peacekeeping missions like the Kosovo Force (KFOR). Finland is a contributing member of the UN’s Action for Peacekeeping initiative, with more than 200 soldiers and police deployed to the MINUSMA, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNSOM, and UNTSO missions. Finland also partners with the United States in the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS
According to the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, Finland supports humanitarian mine action programs to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance and provide mine risk education in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, and Ukraine, where the United States funds similar programs.
Finland participates in multiple bilateral and multilateral military exercises with the United States, EU, and NATO Allies, to include: Aurora, Cold Response, Trident Jupiter, Northern Coasts, and BALTOPS.
For further information, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at PM-CPA@state.gov, and follow the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs on Twitter, @StateDeptPM.
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
