Finland’s 830-mile (1,340km) border with Russia has become a focal point of security concerns following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The climate has grown tense since Finland joined NATO, making the dynamics at the border very different. Finnish President Alexander Stubb has expressed his concerns to U.S. President Donald Trump about this new and alarming geopolitical development. The Finnish defence forces are now on high alert, closely monitoring Russian military maneuvers near their newly critical NATO frontier.
To compound these issues, the Finnish border guards have been experiencing a significant increase in illegal crossings. This surge largely concerns people with military experience. Indeed, recent media reports indicate that Finland is fortifying its border. From building up barrier fences to creating new ones, they’re ramping up the deterrent measures that prevent irregular migration. This rapidly changing landscape has forced the hands of many local officials to reconsider their engagement with their Russian counterparts, as once familiar lines of communication evaporate.
Finland’s Heightened Security Measures
In light of the changing geopolitical environment, most notably highlighted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Finland has quickly changed its defense paradigms. Second, the Finnish defence forces are understandably watchful of any military developments made by Moscow near to the NATO border. Intelligence recently released indicating that Russian military installations in the area have been hardened has raised serious alarms, as seen here from Finnish leaders.
In an interview with Yle, Matti Pitkäniitty, the commander of North Karelia’s border guard district, underscored the increasing burden that illegal crossings have begun to create. He stated, “Now, one of the risks we are facing are the military-trained personnel fleeing the war. They of course know how to navigate through the woods and how to survive there if they need to stay out of sight for a couple of days.”
To meet these new challenges, Finland is building segments of barrier fencing on 120 miles of its eastern border with Russia. The ostensible purpose is to stop unauthorized migration, especially by those coming to claim asylum or escape violence. According to the Finnish border guard, one train crossing from Russia into Finland occurs every week. It moves non-sanctioned basic goods, such as fertilizer.
Changing Relationships with Russia
The long and complicated history between Finland and Russia only served to pile on the layers of complexity on an already fraught situation. Finland’s relationship with its eastern neighbor has been anything but gentle. It has notable disputes such as the Winter War and the Continuation War in World War II. This history shapes Finland’s defense posture today and in their determination to protect their national security.
President Stubb underscored this need to understand Finland’s own historic experiences when analyzing and charting the course of Finland’s security strategy. We may be a small country, but we share a very long border with Russia, almost 1400 km. And we, as you know, have our own historical experience with Russia,” he added. He expressed confidence in finding solutions to future security challenges, saying, “We found a solution in 1944 and I’m sure that we will be able to find a solution in 2025.”
One area where the impact of climate change is most apparent is the relationship between Finnish border guards and their Russian counterparts. Pitkäniitty used to have up to a dozen annual meetings with his Russian counterpart—in the high alert period, that was down to four. So while the formal channels of communication have dried up, collaboration continues. People on the ground are focusing on nuts-and-bolts issues such as clearing toppled trees and controlling wildfires on the border.
“For Russians, NATO has been historically next to Satan, if not Satan itself. So now we are part of that and it changes how they view the Finns,” – Matti Pitkäniitty
The Impact on Finnish Society
The changing security environment has impacted Finnish society much more broadly. Young Finns are becoming keenly familiar with their part in Finland’s national defense. Conscription is still a main pillar in the foundation of Finnish military philosophy. Emma, a 19-year-old in training with the North Karelia border guard, articulated her sense of duty: “I think it is important to support your own country.”
As Emma thought back to her time in the military college preparation program, she loved everything that the military had to provide, but she wasn’t sure about having a future in a military lifestyle. Now I’m not sure that’s what I want to do for a living. That said, these obstacles create a tremendous opportunity for women. “I think everyone should join,” she stated.
As tensions continue to escalate at the border, local officials grapple with the implications of potential military-trained defectors crossing into Finland. Pitkäniitty raised concerns about how to manage interactions with these individuals: “How do we work with Russian males who have been in the war?”