Biden admin approves prospective $323 million arms sale to Finland

The Biden administration on Monday informed Congress that it supports a prospective sale of arms to Finland.

The State Department announced that the administration backed Helsinki's potential purchase of 40 Raytheon-manufactured tactical missiles and 48 Joint Standoff Weapons valued at a total of $323 million, The Hill reported.

Finland and neighboring Sweden have both applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization this year, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland shares a border with Russia and last clashed with Moscow during World War II. The country remained neutral throughout the Cold War. The Senate, in August, voted 95-1 to admit both nations. Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley was the sole opposing vote.

The 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 Department asserted, adding it "is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Finland in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability."

The administration has this year approved a host of arms sales to NATO countries near Russia in a bid to bolster the alliance against prospective Muscovite aggression.