Finland has accused Russia of using a strange tactic that involves giving migrants bicycles and foot scooters to make crossing borders easier, in a development that has taken international relations by surprise. According to Finland’s defense minister Antti Häkkänen, this is all part of Russia’s hybrid warfare game plan, which aims to undermine European stability. Finland has closed multiple road crossings with Russia as a result of this accusation, escalating tensions and attracting the attention of the European Commission.
Bicycle Diplomacy:
Finnish officials claim that Russian counterparts are distributing low-cost bicycles and scooters to migrants due to restrictions on walking between border checkpoints. Videos show groups of migrants riding bicycles or scooters through the chilly, dark Finnish border crossings. At one checkpoint, Finnish police used tear gas to manage a crowd of migrants.
Unusual Migration Patterns:
Reports indicate a significant increase in migrants, predominantly young men from Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Somalia, crossing into Finland from Russia. This surge is noteworthy as it deviates from the more common routes through the Mediterranean or Central Europe, suggesting a deliberate shift by Russia.
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Finland’s Response:
Helsinki, responding to an unusual surge in migrant numbers, has taken decisive action by closing four out of its eight road crossings with Russia. This move comes at a time when Finland recently joined NATO, aggravating the Kremlin. The timing of the migrant influx coincides with Finland’s upcoming major naval exercise as a NATO member.
Escalating Tensions:
As the situation unfolds, Finland faces a dilemma—whether to close all crossings with Russia or uphold its obligation to accept asylum seekers. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asserts that Finland is now defending the EU against what appears to be a Kremlin-backed strategy.
Russia’s Hybrid Warfare and Migration:
Analysts warn that Russia’s unconventional approach to hybrid warfare includes the use of migrants as a tool to destabilize adversaries. This tactic has been previously employed, with instances such as the Wagner Group organizing migrant boats from Libya in 2022 and Belarus funneling migrants towards Poland and Lithuania in 2021.
The Arctic region witnesses heightened tensions as Russia expands its military bases and tests ballistic missiles since Finland’s NATO accession. The Kremlin, buoyed by its resilience against a NATO-backed Ukrainian counter-offensive, is actively probing weaknesses within Europe and NATO.
Russian media denies orchestrating the migrant surge, asserting that migrants are in Russia legally, primarily on student visas. They claim private businessmen facilitated their travel to the border and provided bicycles.
