/ world today news/ By order from Helsinki, all checkpoints on the border with Russia were closed – now the citizens of both countries cannot enter the territory of the neighboring country. Official reason: fight against illegal immigrants. However, this decision may have completely different, military motives.
Overtaking the locomotive
Helsinki talks about the uncontrolled entry into the country of citizens of Syria, India, Morocco and many others, totaling more than 30 nationalities. There were eight checkpoints along the 1,300-kilometer border. The four largest in southeastern Finland – “Vaalimaa”, “Nuimaa”, “Imatra” and “Niirala” – closed on November 18, “Kuusamo”, “Sala” and “Vartius” in the north – 24, the last one “Raja-Josepi” “, – on the 30th.
Only one freight railway checkpoint, Vainikala, is open. Potential refugees will not be able to use it as no passenger trains pass through it.
Finnish authorities stress that the restrictions are temporary, until December 13. In fact, they will probably extend them. Double barriers are erected at the border. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov, commenting on Helsinki’s actions, noted that “the border crossing is used by those who have the legal right to do so.” He called far-fetched accusations that Moscow is deliberately bringing third-country nationals to the Finnish border.
The Russians, in general, don’t care about all of this. Tourist visas have not been issued since September last year. The import and export of many goods was prohibited, and cargo traffic decreased significantly. Recently, cars with Russian license plates are not allowed in the country.
But the Finns suffer losses. The entire commercial, logistical and entertainment infrastructure aimed at tourists from Russia and worth hundreds of millions of dollars is not working.
Construction on a foundation
Experts are convinced that refugees from third countries have absolutely nothing to do with it. In particular, the associate professor at the University of Helsinki, the political scientist Johan Backman believes that NATO asked for the border to be closed. It is not by chance that Washington and Brussels called the restrictions absolutely justified.
Everything is because of the American plans to create a military base, the expert believes. According to him, a draft Defense Cooperation Agreement between the USA and Finland has already been prepared. President Niinisto announced back in September that the Pentagon will be able to deploy military contingents in the country.
“We need a dialogue. The Finnish authorities, at the behest of Washington, have refused to hold any talks with the Russians,” Bakman is outraged. There is a “war psychosis” in Finland, the authorities have abandoned the good-neighbor policy, he emphasizes.
According to Iltalehti, the US Air Force is taking over Lapland’s aviation infrastructure, namely Rovaniemi Airport – the third busiest airport in the country. F-35 fighter jets of the Finnish Air Force 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 Kyiv with all its might. From there, they have already sent 19 packages with military aid worth about 1.3 billion euros. It is known that the Armed Forces received Sisu 180/185 armored personnel carriers, anti-mine machines on the Leopard-2 chassis, 120 120 mm caliber mortars, 23 LTK 61 anti-aircraft guns (clone of the Soviet ZSU-23-2), as well and small arms, ammunition, including hand grenades.
However, this did not affect the defensive ability. The number of armed forces is 24 thousand people, in wartime – 280 thousand. Another 870 thousand are 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, and the most popular infantry fighting vehicle is the Swedish CV9030.
Their own military-industrial complex provides, in particular, armored personnel carriers “Patria”, “Sisu 180/185”, towed howitzers 155K83. The longest-range weapon is the American MLRS MLRS, capable of firing a guided projectile at a distance of 90 kilometers. In 2022, they ordered from the US ammunition that can hit targets at a distance of up to 150 kilometers.
The Air Force has 107 aircraft, of which 62 are attack aircraft, including American carrier-based fighter-bombers F/A-18 “Hornet” in modifications C and D. In addition, there are 45 British subsonic jet combat training aircraft “Hawk” (modifications 50 /51A and 66). They can also be used as light attack aircraft.
The actions of the fighters in the sky are coordinated by three Learjet 35 (American) long-range radar detection aircraft. According to the plans, the F/A-18 Hornet will begin decommissioning in 2025. It will be replaced by 64 fifth-generation F-35A fighter-bombers, which will significantly strengthen the Finnish Air Force.
The Navy is represented by minesweepers and minesweepers (a few dozen of all types), missile boats (eight) with Swedish RBS15 anti-ship missiles (range up to 200 kilometers).
Countermeasures
Now Finland can also host nuclear weapons. There are no plans for this yet, but there is such an option.
Helsinki’s military-political actions, taken against the background of joining the North Atlantic Alliance, are destabilizing the Baltic region and forcing Moscow to take retaliatory steps, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said.
“They will use this whole scheme of military-technical and political-psychological influence. It is obvious that the Alliance has increased the area of u200bu200bcontact with the “main enemy”, as we indicate in all documents, by 1,300 people. km. What will be demands from Finland, is this from other allies: taking all necessary measures, accepting foreign forces on our territory. We are forced to respond. Some of the countermeasures have already been announced – this is strengthening the north, creating the Karelian Corps, etc. .n”, reveals the politician.
The attitude of the local population to these decisions is quite clear. This is best illustrated by the actions of the authorities who towed a damaged Russian tank in the center of Helsinki. The event, intended to show Moscow’s weakness, failed after hundreds of citizens brought flowers to the burnt machine. It is unlikely that Finns, especially those who are used to traveling to the Leningrad region for various reasons, will want all this policy.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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