Finland has completed a new border fence along its eastern frontier with Russia, a secondary security measure aimed at stemming the flow of unauthorized Russian migrants. The 124-mile fence is part of a broader effort to strengthen border security in response to Russian tactics designed to disrupt European nations.
According to Petri Hakkarainen, political director for the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Russia has attempted to instrumentalize migrants at the Finnish border, pushing them towards the border and forcing Finland to process large volumes of asylum claims. This influx can destabilize society if carried out on a massive scale, Hakkarainen explained.
In response to these concerns, Finland closed its entire land border with Russia in 2023, prompting a formal complaint from Moscow. The Kremlin condemned the closure as "Russophobic" and expressed "deep regret" over the move, claiming it replaced decades of "pragmatic, mutually respectful relations" with an anti-Russian political stance.
Finland's decision to strengthen its border security comes as Western officials accuse Moscow of launching widespread destabilization campaigns across Europe. Russia's war of attrition in Ukraine has led to concerns about the country's intentions and its impact on transatlantic security. Hakkarainen emphasized the importance of listening to the analysis of countries neighboring Russia, including Finland, which considers Russia to be a long-term threat to transatlantic security.
The completed border fence supplements the border closures and is part of a broader effort to strengthen Finland's border security. This initiative was launched after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which prompted Finland to join NATO in April 2023.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
View original reporting →
