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Mari Rantanen Unveils Completed 200-Kilometer Security Fence Along Finland's Eastern Border with Russia

Interior Minister Mari Rantanen presented the completed 200-kilometer security fence along Finland's eastern border with Russia. The project, which cost 356 million euros, features patrol roads, loudspeakers, night lighting, and surveillance cameras. The fence was constructed to address heightened security risks and manage the movement of migrants following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Finland's subsequent entry into NATO. Finland closed its land border with Russia indefinitely in December 2023 after more than 1,300 migrants arrived without visas. Helsinki accused Moscow of using migration as a tool of hybrid warfare to destabilize the country, a charge the Kremlin denied. The new barrier is concentrated primarily in the southeast and serves as a long-term investment in border security. Mari Rantanen stated that the fence is necessary for surveillance and keeping people out of Finnish territory when needed. The administration also proposed extending the Border Security Act until 2028, which allows the government to restrict asylum applications under exceptional circumstances. Mari Rantanen called for increased EU funding to support similar projects for eastern member states.

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