Finland has extended its border closure with Russia due to a surge in migrant crossings that the country believes is orchestrated by Russia. The closure was put in place in mid-December after nearly 1,000 migrants arrived without a visa through border crossings with Russia. The border closure has been extended multiple times, with the latest extension set to expire on April 14. The Finnish government stated the closure will remain in place until further notice, but no longer than necessary to address the situation. As of April 15, certain maritime border crossings will be closed to prevent the potential expansion of instrumentalized migration.
Relations between Finland and Russia deteriorated after Finland joined NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Moscow has warned of “countermeasures” following Finland’s decision to join the Western defense alliance. In November, Finland initially closed four border crossings with Russia and shut the rest by the end of the month. Despite partially easing the closure, Finland ultimately decided to close the entire border on December 14. Finnish authorities believe that reopening the border could pose a threat to national security and public order, citing the presence of hundreds or possibly thousands of people close to the Finnish border on the Russian side.
Interior Minister Mari Rantanen stated that Finnish authorities view the situation as long-term and have not seen any significant changes this spring to warrant reopening the border with Russia. The government is also preparing a bill that would allow them to restrict the reception of applications for international protection in specific areas. Finland’s decision to extend the border closure is influenced by its belief that the surge in asylum seekers is orchestrated by Russia, a charge that Moscow denies. The government is working to prevent the possibility of instrumentalized migration expanding to maritime traffic by closing certain border crossing points for leisure boating.
The border closure between Finland and Russia follows Finland’s decision to join NATO in April 2023, which marked a significant shift from its longstanding policy of military non-alignment. Moscow’s reaction to this move included warnings of potential countermeasures, further straining the already tense relationship between the two countries. Finnish authorities justify the border closure by citing concerns about national security and public order, as well as the presence of a large number of individuals near the border on the Russian side. The closure has been extended multiple times, with the latest extension in place until further notice.
As of April 15, it will only be possible to apply for asylum at selected maritime border crossing points or airports, with the closure of other points aimed at preventing an expansion of instrumentalized migration to maritime traffic. The Finnish government is continuing to monitor the situation closely and taking steps to address the challenges posed by the surge in migrants crossing from Russia. Overall, the extended border closure reflects Finland’s efforts to manage the situation and safeguard its borders in response to the ongoing influx of asylum seekers. Relations between Finland and Russia have become strained due to the border closure and Finland’s decision to join NATO.
