Finland and United States sign first DCA implementing agreement

Finland and the United States signed the Implementing Agreement Regarding Infrastructure in Implementation of the Agreement on Defence Cooperation Between the Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government of the United States of America on 13 August 2025.

The agreement concerns the mechanisms for the planning, contracts, implementation and funding of infrastructure construction under the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA).

"The representatives of Finland and the United States have worked hard to deepen our defence cooperation. The agreement now signed will deepen the defence cooperation between Finland and the United States in terms of infrastructure and construction," Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.

According to Minister of Defence Häkkänen, defence cooperation between Finland and the United States strengthens security in Finland.

"Finland has a strong deterrence effect thanks to our robust homeland defence, our membership in NATO and the Defence Cooperation Agreement we have with the United States that enables US military presence and commitment to Finland's defence. Finland will not be coerced or undermined by military force," Minister Häkkänen said.

This first implementing agreement was signed in Stuttgart, Germany, by the United States European Command (USEUCOM), on behalf of the United States, and by Brigadier General Markku Viitasaari, Director of the National Defence Unit at the Ministry of Defence, on behalf of Finland.

Finland and the United States are currently negotiating five additional implementing agreements that concern security, taxation, entry and exit requirements, customs duties and imports. The negotiations on this set of agreements are scheduled to be concluded by the end of 2025. The next set of agreements to be negotiated will concern the environment and the movement of aircraft, vessels and vehicles. Their preparation will start once the negotiations on the first six agreements have been concluded.

The Defence Cooperation Agreement between Finland and the United States enables the presence and training of US forces in Finland. In Finland, more than 80 people in different ministries and government agencies are working to promote the DCA implementation.

Inquiries for Ministry of Defence: Senior Department Officer Veli-Petteri Valkamo, tel. +358 295 140 026

Requests for interviews with the Minister: Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence Dani Niskanen tel. +358 41 544 4967