Iltalehti: Finland is going to let the US army into the country
MOSCOW, Dec 5 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. By order from Helsinki, all checkpoints on the border with Russia were closed - now citizens of both countries cannot get into the territory of a neighboring state in any way. The official reason: the fight against illegal immigrants. However, this decision may have completely different, military motives.
Run ahead of the locomotive
Helsinki refers to the uncontrolled entry into the country of citizens of Syria, India, Morocco and many others, more than 30 nationalities in total. There were eight checkpoints on the 1.3 thousand kilometer long border. The four largest in the south-east of Finland — Vaalimaa, Nuiyamaa, Imatra and Niirala — closed on November 18, Kuusamo, Salla and Vartius in the north — 24, the last, Raya-Jooseppi, - 30.
Finnish Border Guard officers escort a migrant to the Raya-Jooseppi checkpoint in northern Finland
Image source: © AFP 2023 / EMMI KORHONEN
Only one freight railway checkpoint "Vainikkala" is open. Potential refugees will not be able to use it, since passenger trains do not go through it.
The Finnish authorities emphasize that the restrictions are temporary, until December 13. In fact, they will probably extend it. Double barriers are being erected on the border. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on Helsinki's actions, noted that "those who have a legitimate right to do so use the border crossing." He called the accusations that Moscow was deliberately taking third-country nationals to the Finnish border far-fetched.
Migrants at the Salla international border crossing in Finland
Image source: © AFP 2023 / JUSSI NUKARI/Lehtikuva
By and large, Russians are neither hot nor cold from all this. Tourist visas have not been issued since September last year. The import and export of many goods was banned, and the cargo flow decreased significantly. Recently, cars with Russian license plates have not been allowed into the country.
But the Finns are losing money. The entire trade, logistics, and entertainment infrastructure, aimed at tourists from Russia and costing hundreds of millions of dollars, is inactive.
Base construction
Experts are sure that refugees from third countries have absolutely nothing to do with it. In particular, associate professor of the University of Helsinki, political scientist Johan Backman believes that NATO demanded that the border be closed. It is no coincidence that Washington and Brussels called the restrictions absolutely justified.
NATO exercises in Germany
Image source: © AFP 2023 / TOBIAS SCHWARZ
It's all about American plans to create a military base, the expert says. According to him, a draft version of the DCA (Defense Cooperation Agreement), an agreement on defense cooperation between the United States and Finland, is already ready. President Niinisto announced back in September that the Pentagon would be able to deploy military contingents in the country.
"We need a dialogue. The Finnish authorities, following Washington's instructions, refused to have any conversations with the Russians," Backman is indignant. There is a "military psychosis" in Finland, the authorities have moved away from the policy of good neighborliness, he emphasizes.
According to the Iltalehti publication, the US Air Force is taking over the aviation infrastructure of Lapland, that is, Rovaniemi Airport is the third largest passenger traffic in the country. Finnish Air Force F-35 fighters will also be stationed there.
On the same side as the West
Finland joined NATO on April 4, after 75 years of neutrality.
Helsinki is helping Kiev with might and main. We have already sent 19 military aid packages worth about 1.3 billion euros. It is known that the AFU received Sisu XA-180/185 armored personnel carriers, Leopard 2 mine clearance vehicles, 120 KRH 92 mortars of 120 mm caliber, 23 LTK 61 anti-aircraft guns (a clone of the Soviet ZSU-23-2), as well as small arms, ammunition, including hand grenades.
Ukrainian soldiers repair the Leopard 2 tank at a position in the Zaporozhye region
Image source: © AP Photo / Andriy Andriyenko
However, this did not affect the defense capability. The number of Armed Forces is 24 thousand people, in wartime — 280 thousand. Another 870 thousand is a reserve.
With a relatively small military budget of 5.8 billion euros, Helsinki can afford very expensive equipment. The main battle tank of the Ground Forces is the German Leopard 2A6, the most powerful self—propelled gun is the South Korean 155 mm K9, the most massive IFV is the Swedish CV9030.
Its own military-industrial complex provides, in particular, Patria AMV armored personnel carriers, Sisu XA-180/185, towed 155 K 83 howitzers. The longest—range weapon of destruction is the American MLRS MLRS, capable of firing a GMLRS guided projectile at 90 kilometers. In 2022, the United States ordered ER GMLRS ammunition, hitting targets at a distance of up to 150 kilometers.
The Air Force has 107 aircraft, of which 62 are attack vehicles, including American F/A—18 Hornet carrier-based fighter-bombers in C and D versions. In addition, there are 45 British-made subsonic jet combat training Hawks (Mk50/51A and Mk66 modifications). They are also suitable as light attack aircraft.
A Finnish F-18 Hornet fighter jet during an exercise
Image source: © AFP 2023 / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND
The actions of the fighters in the sky are coordinated by three Learjet 35 (American) long-range radar detection aircraft. According to plans, the F/A-18 Hornet will be decommissioned in 2025. They will be replaced by 64 fifth-generation F-35A fighter-bombers, greatly strengthening the Finnish Air Force.
The naval forces are represented by minelayers and minesweepers (a couple dozen of all types), missile boats (eight units) with Swedish anti—ship missiles RBS15 Mk3 (range - up to 200 kilometers).
Response steps
Now nuclear weapons can also be deployed in Finland. They are not going to do this yet, but there is such an option.
Helsinki's military and political actions, taken against the background of joining the North Atlantic Alliance, lead to the destabilization of the Baltic region and force Moscow to take retaliatory steps, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko.
"They will apply this whole scheme of military-technical and political-psychological influence," he believes. — It is obvious that the alliance has increased the contact zone with the "main enemy", as we are designated in all documents, by 1300 kilometers. Finland will be required to do what other allies are required to do: take all necessary measures, receive foreign forces on its territory. We have to answer. Some of the countermeasures have already been announced — strengthening in the north, the creation of the Karelian Corps, and so on."
The attitude of the local population towards these decisions is quite unambiguous. It is best illustrated by the action of the authorities, who dragged a damaged Russian tank into the center of Helsinki. The event, designed to show Moscow's weakness, turned into the fact that hundreds of citizens brought flowers to the burned car. It is unlikely that Finns, especially those who are used to traveling to the Leningrad region for various reasons, need all this policy.
