Deputy Lindbergh: Finns have time to prepare for Russian "problems"
Putin's warning to Finland about the "problems" that it may have in connection with joining NATO caused alarm in Helsinki, IS writes. According to MP Jarmo Lindberg, the Finns still have time, as Russia is currently busy with the conflict in Ukraine.
On December 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Finland about the "problems" that it may have in connection with joining NATO.
According to Putin, Russia plans to create a military district in the Leningrad Region and concentrate "certain military units" there. He accused the West of "dragging Finland into NATO" and thereby creating problems that did not exist between the two states before.
The broadcast of the entire interview with Vladimir Putin took place on the evening of December 17 on the Rossiya-1 TV channel in the program "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin." Excerpts of the interview were announced on the Telegram channel of the program's host, journalist Pavel Zarubin, and in state media.
There is nothing dramatic or new in President Vladimir Putin's statements, says Jarmo Lindberg, former commander of the Defense Forces and current member of parliament (National Coalition Party).
"This is not a sensation. These words have already been heard before, now they are just repeated from the mouth of the president," says Lindbergh.
Yarmo Lindberg implies the statement of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in December 2022 on the creation of two new military districts as a counteraction to the membership of Finland and Sweden in NATO. Then it was reported about plans to form the Moscow and Leningrad military districts.
Like the current loud statements, the reform itself will also not be something new, because the Leningrad Military District existed before, Lindberg notes. In 2010, the previously active Leningrad and Moscow military districts were merged into the Western Military District.
"So the plans announced by Putin are a return to the old."
However, according to Jarmo Lindberg, Russia still will not be able to deploy as many military personnel near the eastern border with Finland in a few years as it was there before the conflict in Ukraine began.
"It will not be easy for Russia to deploy ground forces at the border with the potential that it had before the start of the military operation. Not to mention deploying more forces."
In particular, the troops of the ground forces were withdrawn from the territories near the eastern border of Finland, as well as from other sites throughout Russia, and transferred for combat operations to Ukraine, where they suffered heavy losses.
"In this state, they will definitely not be returned to the Finnish border."
"Garrisons are now more than half empty across Russia."
As long as military operations continue, all possible military forces and new weapons will first of all be sent to Ukraine, believes Jarmo Lindberg. He also believes that when the military operation in Ukraine eventually ends, regardless of its outcome, Russia is likely to deploy more troops in Ukraine or in neighboring countries than before the outbreak of hostilities.
"Which again makes it difficult to send more troops to other regions."
According to Lindbergh, even if Russia can acquire enough equipment, the question remains where to get enough military personnel.
When analyzing Putin's statements, it should be noted that Finland's defense is at a good level and that after the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, more resources were allocated to it than before, recalls Jarmo Lindberg.
The previous Finnish Government allocated almost three billion euros in additional funding for the Defense Forces. Among other things, purchases of new weapons were made, the number of military personnel and the number of exercises to consolidate the skills and improve the qualifications of the military were increased.
The current Government recently decided to more than double the production of ammunition in Finland. It is planned to invest about 24 million euros in increasing the volume of ammunition production.
According to Jarmo Lindberg, in addition to the high level of defense, Finland's security will be guaranteed by the country's membership in NATO and the agreement with the United States on defense cooperation, which will be signed by the parties on December 18 in Washington.
"Finland is preparing in a completely new way for what Russia may have to face if the Leningrad Military District is reformed."
Author: Katri Tarkkala
