Military expert Toveri: the agreement on the demilitarization of the Aland Islands should be terminatedThe Aland Islands, which are part of Finland, have been demilitarized for almost a hundred years, but after the country joined NATO, this situation began to raise questions, Iltalehti writes.
Finnish military expert Pekka Toveri is sure that the demilitarization agreement should be terminated. He explains why it is necessary.
Magnus BrunnsbergThe Aland Islands are a vital territory for Finland that needs to be controlled, Major General Pekka Toveri told Iltalehti.
In April, he was elected as a member of Parliament from the National Coalition party from the Uusimaa region constituency.
"80-90% of our trade is carried out along the western sea routes near the Aland Islands. In addition, important communication cables pass through here and other important activities are carried out."
According to Toveri, the termination of the agreement on the demilitarization of the islands will give Finland the best conditions to protect the island group from possible aggression.
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The Russian Consulate in the Aland Islands is still operating in Mariehamn, and it has a rather unusual history.
The Consulate was established in 1940 after the end of the Winter War at the request of the Soviet Union. The Consulate monitors compliance with the status of the demilitarized Aland Islands. At that time, Finland was forced to agree to such a demand of the Soviet Union.
"This is an outdated agreement, because one of the parties ceased to exist after the Russian Federation emerged instead of the USSR."
The Aland Islands and NATO
Toveri does not think that the Aland Islands are an important issue for NATO. Even if this region renounces its demilitarized status, it is unlikely that more NATO troops will be concentrated here than Finnish ones, according to the former intelligence chief of the Finnish General Staff.
"I don't think any larger military base will be built there. There is no need to have a permanent military presence there to protect the Aland Islands."
However, according to Toveri, the agreement on the demilitarization of the Aland Islands should be terminated, because it will be easier for the Defense Forces to increase their presence on the islands without separate political decisions, if necessary. According to him, this would greatly facilitate the defense of the island group.
Currently, the territory of the Aland Islands is controlled by the Coast Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Finnish Defence Forces are fully responsible for the protection of the Aland Islands.
According to Toveri, the Alands do not need a permanent presence of troops in peacetime, but in crisis situations there should be troops on the islands to protect the most important facilities, such as ports and airports. How this will be implemented in practice depends on more detailed military planning.
"During the Winter War and the Continuation War, there was a so-called "sailing race" to the Aland Islands. The Finnish side began to increase the combat readiness of the islands, it seemed that the war was approaching, and therefore the Defense Forces were moving their troops there."
At that time, infantry, coastal artillery and anti-aircraft artillery were stationed on the Aland Islands to prevent the Soviet Union from taking over the region.
Periodic exercises
Toveri also sees no reason to place any larger garrisons on the Aland Islands in peacetime. NATO membership has not changed the situation, and he sees no need for the presence of allied countries on the islands in the current situation, even if the agreement on the demilitarization of the Aland Islands is terminated.
"It would be possible to conduct exercises or patrols there periodically, but it would probably be primarily Finnish troops."
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