Work on the fencing along Finland's 1,340-kilometer-long border with Russia began just over three years ago.

The construction of 200 kilometers of fencing along Finland’s eastern border with Russia was officially completed on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference near the Nuijamaa border, in the southeast of Finland, Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns) said there may be a need to extend the fencing areas in the future.

“I think it’s good that at some point we assess whether more of this is needed. What we particularly need is EU funding for eastern member states so that projects like this can be financed,” Rantanen said.

Finland’s border with Russia stretches to 1,340 kilometers, the longest frontier shared by any EU or Nato member nation with Russia.

Rantanen noted that the construction of the border fence was necessary as Europe’s security situation has changed significantly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as well as its use of various hybrid influencing operations.

“In this situation, every state must take care of its own security and the inviolability of its borders,” the minister stated.

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  • A_norny_mousse@piefed.zipEnglish
    1·
    3 days ago

    I just want to add that nobody expects this to stop a military invasion.

    Finland has a very capable military as well and it’s been deployed along its Eastern border for the longest time.

    • A_norny_mousse@piefed.zipEnglish
      5·
      3 days ago

      As @iconoclast@feddit.uk wrote:

      It wasn’t built to stop russians [i.e. a military invasion] but migrants. Instrumentalised migration is the legal term I believe.

      See what happened on Poland’s & the Baltics’ borders a while ago. Many believe the more recent happenings in Ceuta fall in the same category.

      Hybrid warfare. Detabilisation is the goal.

    • huppakee@lemmy.world
      3·
      4 days ago

      I think it works as a message and as an early warning system, but it’s not like Russia wil suddenly start respecting Finlands sovereignty I suppose.

    • tardigrade@scribe.disroot.orgOP
      2·
      4 days ago

      I am not an expert for this, but I guess this helps to slow down the enemy in case of an immediate invasion, providing time for the Finnish Forces to organize a response. But that’s just my guess as a layman.