The Russian attack on Ukraine makes Finland break with alliance neutrality and strive for NATO. The United States wants to strengthen relations with the Nordic country and approve a multi-million rocket delivery.
The US Department of Defense has announced plans to sell missiles worth 323 million dollars (around 319 million euros) to NATO candidate Finland. The Pentagon said the sale would "enhance Finland's air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities and have a positive impact on US relations with countries in the Nordic region."
A sales license for tactical missiles of the types AIM 9X and AGM-154 has been granted to Finland. The sale will "support U.S. foreign policy and national security by enhancing the security of a trusted partner who is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe," it said.
The US State Department has already approved the potential sale, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency sent the required notice to the US Congress on Wednesday. He still has to agree to the deal.
The arms sale announcement comes more than nine months after Russia invaded Ukraine. The Russian war of aggression had prompted both Finland and Sweden to break with their decades-long tradition of military neutrality and apply for NATO membership.
