On November 28, 2022, the United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) published the latest of over $850 million in advanced missiles and rockets to Finland.
Finland, along with its Scandinavian neighbor in Sweden, is currently seeking NATO membership.
Will Porter of the Libertarian Institute reported that the State Department has given the green light for a deal for 40 AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and similar guidance units, in addition to 48 AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapons, for roughly $323.3 million.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a trusted partner, which is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the DSCA stated, emphasizing that this latest weapons sale would “not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
Porter broke down the characteristics of these weapons being sold to Finland:
The Sidewinder is a versatile short-range air-to-air munition compatible with a variety of different launchers, first developed by the United States in 1956 and later adopted by dozens of American allies. The AGM-154 medium-range glide bomb is of much newer design, in service in the US since the late 1990s, and is capable of carrying various warheads. Both weapons are produced by Raytheon, and have been used by Finnish forces for several years.
Earlier in November, the State Department approved a $535 million sale for hundreds of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS).
This latest arms sale comes at a time when there is increasing speculation that the US and its NATO satrapies are running out of weapons and ammunition following a deluge of military aid to Ukraine. Some security experts believe that it could take years to restock certain systems.
Russia’s military incursion into Ukraine propelled the political classes of Finland and Sweden to push for NATO membership. In applying for NATO back in May, Finland and Sweden have now committed themselves to end their long-standing policies of geopolitical neutrality.
Thus far, only Hungary and Turkey have blocked the ratification of the two countries’ NATO membership bid. Nevertheless, the two Nordic countries will remain close strategic partners with NATO irrespective of their official status in the alliance.
Both countries participate in joint military exercises with NATO member nations. Porter noted that Sweden “became the first non-NATO member authorized to purchase and deploy its own Patriot missile battery last year, indicating its tight relations with Washington.”
It’s becoming clear that the Collective West wants to continue its proxy war against Russia. Now, they’ll likely have two new members in Finland and Sweden who could serve as potential sacrificial lambs. We must always remember that the US prefers to have other countries get entangled in proxy wars with rival great powers without having to directly commit blood and treasure in these conflicts.
For the sake of geopolitical stability, the US needs to stop escalating tensions against Russia and draw up a plan to withdraw from European security affairs. European security is something that European countries, not the US, must determine for themselves.