Finland is slamming the door on its eastern border with Russia, and it’s not just about geography. The interior minister, Mari Rantanen, announced this move shortly after the country eased a two-week road closure between the two nations. Helsinki suggests that the recent surge in asylum seekers taking the Russian route is a calculated retaliation by Moscow for Finland cozying up to the United States in defense matters – a claim the Kremlin vehemently denies.
After briefly reopening two of the eight crossings, the asylum seeker influx prompted Finland to play hardball again, with Rantanen declaring, “This is a sign that the Russian authorities are continuing their hybrid operation against Finland. This is something that Finland will not tolerate.” As Finland stands firm, the geopolitical drama unfolds along its 1,340 km border, revealing the complexities of its recent NATO alliance and its implications for the European Union’s external frontier. The asylum seekers, representing nations from Kenya to Yemen, are turning this border into a hotbed of international intrigue.
