First Norway, then Finland: Foreign Minister Vadeful spent four days on NATO’s northern flank. And it always comes back to one question: How can we better protect ourselves from Russia?
The summer wind gently rustles the grass. Crickets are chirping, bees are buzzing. Nothing reminds us of the bustle that used to reign at the Finnish-Russian border crossing of Vaalimaa. About three million border crossings were counted here for weddings. There was a lot of small border traffic.
Now large shopping centers on the Finnish side are empty. The decision to close the border is a huge financial loss for many here. But no one here questions this decision. Because it is obvious that Russia does not comply with border agreements, explains Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.
In 2023, Russia allowed an increasing number of people from third countries wishing to enter the EU to pass without documents. Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful (CDU) also emphasizes the deliberate instrumentalization of migrants. Put pressure on Finland and other EU countries. One of many forms of hybrid threat.
Foreign Minister Vadeful visited Finland for two days and met, among others, with his counterpart Valtonen.
Is security with Russia still possible?
From the point of view of the German Foreign Minister, the old formula, according to which security can only be with Russia and not against it, is a thing of the past. He understands that many people want to see trade with Russia and contacts with people in Russia again.
But all this will only happen if the Russian government fundamentally changes its policy: stops attacking Ukraine, attacking cyberspace and trying to divide societies. These are dreams to dream, says Wadeful: “But realpolitik requires us to behave differently.”
Armament on both sides
The reality is that both sides are arming themselves. As a result of Finland’s accession to NATO, the Finnish-Russian border, which is more than 1,300 kilometers long, became a NATO border. Russia immediately said it wanted to build and modernize new military bases on the border. A new military district was created. Troops should be increased as soon as opportunities arise. The war against Ukraine continues to bind many forces.
The corresponding measures are being closely monitored not only in Finland. For NATO, this means taking on greater responsibility. Foreign Minister Wadeful speaks of an “absolute game changer”, and a positive one: in relation to the security situation in NATO and Europe.
But it also involves big decisions. Finland has withdrawn from the Ottawa Convention banning the use of landmines. However, Finland is committed to using mines only in case of war, emphasizes Finnish Foreign Minister Valtonen.
The German Foreign Minister agrees. In his view, the decision shows how much Russia’s war against Ukraine has changed the international order and the architecture of arms control. He trusts the Finns’ assessments. Appreciates their pragmatic, sober view of the situation.
Finland’s border with Russia has also been a NATO border since April 2023.
“We just need a complete rethink.”
And this is also evident in civil defense. Finland has long been prepared for all surprises. There are emergency drills, lots of volunteers and shelters. The capital Helsinki alone, with a population of about 700,000, has shelters for about 900,000 people.
“I think we just need to completely rethink the situation,” says Foreign Minister Wadeful. He is impressed by the interaction between state and society and preparations that are not based on fear or panic. And how deeply ingrained this is in the mentality.
The Foreign Minister spends a lot of time traveling to Finland and Northern Norway to see this for himself on the spot. On board the patrol ship “Turva”. Wadeful witnesses a training exercise: Border Patrol Special Forces descend from a helicopter and storm the bridge, weapons drawn, to take control of the ship. For a moment everything becomes quiet. And also because it is clear that we are not just talking about an abstract learning scenario.
This raises additional questions for the German minister. We are talking about cooperation, about information exchange. Once again the question arises of how we can better protect ourselves together.
Norway as a “NATO radar”
This applies not only to the Baltic Sea. The North Atlantic and cooperation with Norway are also playing an increasingly important role for Germany. “In a sense, you are our sonar and NATO’s early warning radar in the North Atlantic,” the CDU politician tells his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide. He interrupted his summer vacation specifically to take part in a program in Bodø, north of the Arctic Circle.
Your first stop: the Norwegian Armed Forces headquarters in Reitan. It’s deep in grief. A long, white-painted corridor leads inside. Past the flags of NATO member countries, official photo spot. Doors and corridors are torn away. The stairs lead down to the situation center. A room full of screens showing news from around the world, as well as the movement of ships and planes in the Far North.
Colleagues’ conversation: Cooperation between Germany and Norway is becoming increasingly important.
This is where all the threads come together. Military: with an eye on its own armed forces and NATO allies. Civilian structures are also actively involved to be able to respond to an emergency. From banks, weather services, emergency services to railways.
Structured cooperation between the armed forces and society is also something Germany can learn from, said the Foreign Minister.
Hybrid threats and open lines
Here, in the Far North, we are also talking about hybrid attacks and provocations. Russian fighters are violating airspace. Russian nuclear submarines pass the coast of Norway on their way to the Atlantic. Their detection and identification is one of the tasks of the headquarters.
The Norwegian Armed Forces program also includes regular face-to-face meetings with representatives of the FSB, which is responsible for protecting the Russian border. The Russian Northern Sea Fleet in Murmansk is also contacted every Wednesday.
Contacts often last no more than 20 seconds. Even if we briefly talk about the weather, it is also important in these times when relationships are on hold. From a Norwegian point of view, this is also part of good preparation.