This file photo dated April 16, 2021 shows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in Moscow. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

MOSCOW - The defense agreements the United States signed separately with Finland and Sweden recently will give Washington control over Northern Europe, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

"Now, Washington will essentially have control over the region. NATO is engaged in the rapid military development of the territories of the two countries, despite the fact that Sweden has not even joined the alliance yet," Zakharova said.

We would like to warn that we will take all necessary measures to protect our national security interests.

Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson

The United States and Finland signed a defense cooperation agreement on Monday, enhancing military collaboration between the two countries by obligating Helsinki to open its military bases to US forces and allowing the two militaries to conduct joint training, among other measures.

READ MORE: Finland set to sign defense deal with US

The United States signed a defense agreement with Sweden earlier in December, and will ink a similar pact with Denmark later this week, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The United States will now receive maximum access to military facilities in Finland and Sweden, and will be able to use these for its own purposes, Zakharova noted.

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"We would like to warn that we will take all necessary measures to protect our national security interests," she said.