Swedish and Finnish Social Democrats are pushing for a new bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement between Sweden and Finland. A DCA agreement between Sweden and Finland would be NATO's first such agreement where the United States is not a party. According to Aftonbladet, Peter Hultqvist described the potential DCA as unique and historic, enabling faster military reinforcements in crises.
He noted pre-storing weapons in Finland would give Swedish forces a better starting position, and Finland could store ammunition on Swedish bases for operational depth. According to Aftonbladet, Mika Kari described the DCA as a missing puzzle piece and said it will not be difficult to gain support in Finland, with other parties likely sharing the view. Sweden and Finland already have close defense cooperation with joint exercises and planning.
The potential DCA agreement is both unique and historic.
The Swedish Armed Forces state that Sweden and Finland have an extensive defense partnership aimed at improving defensive capabilities and security in the Baltic Sea region. Large Swedish army units are already directed toward northern Finland in NATO's defense planning, and Sweden leads a forward combat group for NATO from Rovaniemi. This existing framework underscores the deep interoperability between the two nations, which research indicates made them 'virtual' NATO allies even before formal accession.
NATO is not at war with Russia and is not a party to the war Russia is waging on Ukraine. NATO supports Ukraine in its right to self-defense, as enshrined in the UN Charter, and does not seek confrontation with Russia. NATO is a defensive alliance whose core task is to keep its nations safe, and its open door policy allows any European state in a position to further the principles of the treaty to join, with no treaty with Russia ever prohibiting new members.
A DCA would enable faster and more effective military reinforcements in crisis or war situations.
NATO did not invade Georgia in 2008 or Ukraine in 2014 and 2022; Russia did. NATO established the NATO-Russia Council in 2002 and worked on cooperation until Russia's aggressive behavior chipped away at it. However, a former Kremlin official described that Moscow now believes NATO has gone to war with Russia, highlighting a disconnect between NATO's stance and Russia's perception.
Finland and the United States started negotiations for a Defense Cooperation Agreement in March 2023. The DCA between Finland and the United States supplements Finland's NATO membership and aims to streamline cooperation in all security situations. It enables the presence and training of US forces and prepositioning of defense material in Finland, but the United States will not establish military bases there.
Pre-storing weapons and ammunition in Finland would give Swedish forces a better starting position.
Sweden became a NATO member in March and signed a DCA with the United States in December, giving US forces access to 17 military bases. com, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson and expert Jacob Westberg described the Swedish DCA as acting as a deterrent and providing military support to the Baltic Sea region. Sweden is distributing a civil defense booklet 'If Crisis or War Comes' to households, advising on wartime preparations including nuclear attacks.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a major strategic blunder that triggered Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership. Finland and Sweden's NATO accession will permanently reshape the European security architecture, and Russia is likely to see it as a threat. Finland and Sweden were already 'virtual' NATO allies before accession due to close partnership and interoperability.
Finland could store ammunition and weapons on Swedish bases to create greater operational depth.
Russia has significantly reconstituted its forces despite the war in Ukraine and could pose a formidable threat to Europe. Europe needs to undertake a massive buildup of unmanned vehicles and strengthen deterrence against Russian aggression. Russia revised its nuclear doctrine in 2024 to expand conditions for nuclear weapon use, including protection for Belarus and responses to aggression by military coalitions.
Russia's hybrid warfare poses an acute challenge to European societies, exploiting legal gray zones and democratic openness. The United States has bilateral DCA agreements with about 20 NATO countries, including Sweden and Finland. Whether the proposed bilateral DCA between Sweden and Finland has been formally initiated or is still in the proposal stage remains unclear.
The agreement would be good for stability in Northern Europe.
The specific timeline for negotiations or implementation, along with the exact details such as which bases or storage facilities would be involved, have not been confirmed. How Russia will specifically respond to the proposed bilateral DCA between Sweden and Finland, given its likely perception of it as a threat, is uncertain. The level of support from other political parties in Finland and Sweden for the proposed bilateral DCA also remains to be seen, though initial indications suggest broad backing.
The implications of the proposed DCA for European security architecture are significant, as research indicates Finland and Sweden's NATO accession will permanently reshape it, with Russia likely to see it as a threat. According to Aftonbladet, Peter Hultqvist described the agreement as good for stability in Northern Europe and sending a security policy signal that Sweden and Finland are developing and deepening cooperation. He also noted it does not conflict with NATO's direction but strengthens collective NATO in Europe.
The agreement sends a security policy signal that Sweden and Finland are developing and deepening cooperation.
The agreement does not conflict with NATO's direction but strengthens collective NATO in Europe.
It will not be difficult to gain support for the DCA idea in Finland.
Other parties in Finland will likely share the Social Democrats' view on the DCA.
The DCA is a missing puzzle piece that has not yet been put on the table.
The Swedish DCA acts as a deterrent and provides military support to the Baltic Sea region.
Moscow now believes NATO has gone to war with Russia.