Finland has again lowered the “iron curtain” on the border with Russia: a convenient excuse has been found

Russophobia makes Suomi rush from side to side

Finland is showing remarkable consistency in its policies by once again closing its entire border with Russia to stem the influx of asylum seekers. Interior Minister Marie Rantanen made the announcement on Thursday, just hours after Suomi completed a two-week closure of all roads between the two countries.

Helsinki says the recent rise in the number of asylum seekers arriving via Russia was a planned move by Moscow in retaliation for Finnish authorities’ decision to expand defense cooperation with the United States, which the Kremlin denies, The Guardian writes.

The flow of refugee arrivals stopped when Finland closed the border in late November but resumed on Thursday when two of eight crossing points were opened and about 36 people sought asylum, the Finnish Border Guard said.

“Now this phenomenon has resumed, and we will close the entire border,” Interior Minister Rantanen tells parliament.

As a result, the Finnish government decided to close the checkpoints on the eastern border that opened on Thursday, December 14.

A total of at least 62 asylum seekers arrived at open border crossings on Thursday, according to broadcaster Yle.

In particular, 21 asylum seekers arrived at the Vaalimaa checkpoint during the day. At least some of them are citizens of Somalia and Syria, and some of the arrivals include men and women.

According to the deputy commander of the North Karelia Border Guard, Samuli Murtonen, 50 asylum seekers arrived at the Niirala border point today, most of them men.

Meanwhile, as Yle reports, Finland and the United States have reached a bilateral agreement on defense cooperation. This agreement facilitates defense cooperation and training between Finland and the United States without the need to negotiate the movement of troops and materials at the same high level as previously.

According to the agreement, Helsinki opens 15 military bases in Finland to the United States. Suomi Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen added that this agreement, in addition to NATO membership, ensures that Finland receives assistance in a crisis situation. “This is a pretty tough preventive measure against our neighbor,” said Häkkänen, referring to Russia.

The head of the military department noted that American troops may undergo training or be located in territories other than those specified in the document.

The minister also added that nuclear weapons are not excluded by the agreement, but Helsinki will be guided by its legislation. The Nuclear Energy Act prohibits the storage and transportation of nuclear weapons in Finland.

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