The country's defence minister, Jussi Niinistö, said he hoped the deal ‐ incorporating joint military training, information sharing and research ‐ would be signed before the US presidential election in November.
"It's one of the reasons to have it done this autumn. But I'm certain we will continue to work together with either one of main candidates winning," Niinisto told Reuters news agency. There was no immediate response from the Pentagon on a potential agreement.
The deal would provide a framework for increased cooperation between the armed forces of the two nations but would not involve any binding commitment for either country to come to the defence of the other. Finland signed a similar agreement with the UK in July.
'The Winter War' 265 min, Eng Subtitles.