Russia to remain a danger to Europe even after Ukraine war, Finland says citing Moscow's China, North Korea alliances

Russia and its allies will continue to pose a long-term threat to Europe even after the war in Ukraine ends, Finland’s Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said Thursday (December 19), citing Moscow’s growing ties with North Korea, Iran, and China as risks to regional stability.

Hakkanen made the remarks while presenting Finland’s first defence policy review since joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) last year.

Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine had strained Finnish-Russian relations. In response to perceived security threats, Finland applied for Nato membership and officially joined the alliance in April 2023, ending its longstanding military non-alignment.

“Russia, together with its allies, will remain a dangerous actor in Europe even after the war in Ukraine and we cannot exclude the possibility of (them) threatening European countries with the use of military force,” Hakkanen said.

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Defence priorities and alliances

The policy review recommends that Finland prioritize strengthening its national defense, enhancing Nato cooperation, and building partnerships with key allies.

Hakkanen highlighted Finland’s close collaboration with Sweden, Norway, the United States, Britain, and Estonia, as well as its work with South Korea, Israel, and Japan to secure defense materials.

Finland plans to allocate at least 2 per cent of its gross domestic product to defence spending, meeting Nato’s minimum target. By comparison, the Baltic nations and Poland are expected to spend between 3.2 per cent and 4.7 per cent, while Sweden and Norway aim to reach 2.6 per cent by 2030, according to the review.

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Border security concerns

Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) border with Russia, which has been closed to all travellers amid Helsinki’s accusations that Moscow is channelling illegal migration into Europe.

To enhance border security, Hakkanen said Finland is considering reintroducing anti-personnel landmines, which would require withdrawing from an international treaty ratified by over 160 countries but not Russia.

“Protecting our border is a top priority,” Hakkanen said earlier this week in an interview with Reuters.

With inputs from agencies