The commander of North Karelia Border Guard Colonel Marko Turkunen stated that Finland would like a better fence at the Russian border. The news comes amid the standoff between Moscow and the West over Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Turunen stated to MTV3 the officials were analyzing the status of the border fence but have not made a final decision on strengthening it. No actual work has yet been completed.
“If such a decision is made, we will proceed in a controlled and planned manner,”Turunen stated this on Saturday.
Russia and Finland share 1,343km (834mile) of land border. MTV3 reports that it is not protected by Finland’s side. “by a thin and rusty barbed wire fence.”
Turunen stated that a stronger fence was being planned for critical and high-risk areas. This includes border crossings as well as areas near them. Turunen declined to give details about the length and construction of the reinforced fence.
MTV3 reported that Krista Mikkonen is Interior Minister. “Finland’s capacity to maintain border security needs to be strengthened, and its crisis preparedness must be improved.”
Riikka Purra (an MP and the head of right-wing Finns Party) supported the idea. “Construction is, of course, always expensive, but nothing is as valuable is our security,”She spoke to the channel.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine in late February prompted discussions on whether Finland and Sweden should reconsider their longstanding policy of military nonalignment and join NATO. The Finnish government submitted a report to parliament last month arguing that the US-led bloc membership would be beneficial. “enhance the stability of the region in the long term,”However, it could also lead to “increased tensions”The border with Russia.
Moscow has repeatedly said that it sees the bloc’s expansion eastward as a threat to national security. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the deputy chairman of the country’s Security Council, warned that Moscow will deploy additional troops on its western flank if Finland or Sweden join NATO.
Russia attacked Ukraine following Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, first signed in 2014, and Moscow’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. French and German diplomats brokered the protocols to ensure that the region was granted special status by the Ukrainian state.
In recent weeks, the Kremlin demands that Ukraine declares itself neutral in order to be able to join NATO. Kiev claims that the Russian attack was unprovoked. It also denies any plans to take the republics with force.
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