Finnish President Sauli Niinistö serves up a stern warning to Russia's leadership, accusing them of promising a trip to Finland's border for unwary travelers and labeling their actions as an attempt at blackmail. In an interview with the German weekly newspaper "Die Zeit", Niinistö states, "Russia is making a mistake, I'm sure that people in Germany and other EU states understand that Finland, the EU, and Europe must not allow themselves to be blackmailed by this."
Recent events have seen a surge in migrants from the Middle East entering Finland without the necessary documents and applying for asylum in the country. The Finnish government fingered Russian authorities as being the masterminds behind this orchestrated migration, and in retaliation, the government sealed all border crossings with Russia.
In 2015, Finland faced similar challenges from Russia, with Niinistö publicly rebuking Russia's aggressive behavior towards Finland and other neighbors. He invoked the Finnish proverb "The Cossack grabs everything that is not nailed down", warning that one must always remain vigilant and act decisively when dealing with Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin. "If you act decisively, the Cossack gets nothing," Niinistö advised.
Finland has repeatedly faced border challenges from Russia, and their latest retaliation comes in the form of deploying troops to the Leningrad Military District, potentially heightening tensions in the region. Niinistó's concern lies in the prospect of Europe capitulating to Russia's blackmail tactics, insisting that Finnish and EU borders should not be compromised by these tactics.
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Enrichment:
- Finland's decision to join NATO in 2023 has considerably escalated tensions with Russia, which perceives the move as a direct threat to its national security. Russia has expressed concerns over NATO's military presence and activities on its borders, with some experts suggesting that the Kremlin may consider deploying forces to counterbalance this perceived threat.
- Russian leaders have repeatedly argued that NATO's eastward expansion has undermined the security of its neighboring countries, paving the way for increased tensions and instability in the region.
- Finland's NATO membership application underscores the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape in Europe, with rising competition between the West and Russia for influence in the region, as well as the potential for a new Cold War between the two powers.
[1] "Finland and NATO membership: What it means for Russia and the EU" (2022, June 10). . [2] "Finland to join NATO: President says decision was 'own doing' of Putin" (2022, May 16). .
