Finland signs security pact with U.S.

By Tony Bertuca / October 7, 2016 at 1:36 PM

The United States and Finland have signed a new bilateral statement of intent to build a stronger security partnership, according to the Pentagon.

Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work met with Finland's defense minister, Jussi Niinisto, in Helsinki to formalize the new agreement, which lays a foundation for “sharing of security information and expanded joint training and exercises,” according to an Oct. 7 statement from the Pentagon.

While in Helsinki work also participated in a “first-of-its-kind trilateral meeting” with Finnish and Swedish defense officials, where they “discussed ways to build on strong bilateral ties among our nations, and agreed to additional trilateral sessions at a working level in Washington later this year,” according to the Pentagon.

Work also has discussions with defense officials from Nordic and Baltic nations that included an update on “NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence effort on its eastern flank, the U.S. European Reassurance Initiative, security challenges in the Baltic Sea region, the status of the campaign to defeat ISIL and opportunities to strengthen security and stability in the region,” according to the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Finland and Estonia said that Russian jet had violated its their hours after the U.S. defense agreement with Finland was signed.
 

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