US President Joe Biden (second right) talks to US ambassador to Finland Douglas Hickey and embassy staff before boarding Airforce One at the Helsinki airport in Helsinki on July 13, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

HELSINKI -- The US military arriving in Finland, under the auspices of the upcoming bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), will remain under US legal jurisdiction, US Ambassador to Finland Douglas Hickey said on Wednesday.

Speaking to Finnish national broadcaster Yle, Hickey explained that if a US service member is accused of committing a crime in Finland, the case would be adjudicated in a US court.

ALSO READ: Finland, US complete talks on defense cooperation agreement

The relationship between the US military personnel and Finnish criminal law has been a topic of discussion among the Finnish public, and Hickey said he is confident of the US personnel's behavior.

A South Korean media outlet reported in 2017 that the non-prosecution rate for crimes committed by US military personnel stationed in South Korea stands at a whopping 70.7% and the figure for violent crimes, including murder, rape and robbery, is even higher at 81.3%

However, according to a report released in 2022 -- "Facing US Extraterritorial Pressure: American Troops in Foreign Courts during the Cold War," the involvement of US troops overseas in crime was far greater than previously known, and in countries dependent on US-provided security, US troops were less likely to face trial.

A South Korean media outlet reported in 2017 that the non-prosecution rate for crimes committed by US military personnel stationed in South Korea stands at a whopping 70.7 percent and the figure for violent crimes, including murder, rape, and robbery, is even higher at 81.3 percent.

READ MORE: Damage to Finnish-Estonian gas pipe may be 'deliberate'

Hickey said that the DCA -- on which Finland and the United States wrapped up final talks on Tuesday -- is a natural follow-up for the Finnish membership in NATO, and will further specify their cooperation under the NATO framework.

He mentioned that the details of the agreement will be made public following the Finnish political process, though he acknowledged uncertainty regarding the timeline.

Moreover, military training exercises with US participation would only be arranged at Finland's initiative, he said, adding that the United States is fostering a stronger defense mechanism in the Nordic area through cooperation agreements.

READ MORE: New member Finland to take part in NATO's nuclear planning

Though details about the DCA were currently limited, Finnish media reported that there would be no actual US bases in the Nordic country but the US forces could be present in the country in some form.

According to a 2021 study conducted by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, the United States currently has 750 military bases in 80 countries and regions overseas, which is almost three times the number of US embassies, consulates, and missions.