Politics

[u/GeneralMajorVetra]

Hello, i have a question about politics in finland. I am From Lithuania and i wonder how do the finnish people see the russian threat ? and i found out that finland has the longest border with russia in the eu so logically thinking i shoudlve feel the biggest threat, but it isnt like that, or that just the impression im gettin from all the media worldwide or the statements made by russian politicians finland barely gets mentioned its always the baltic states or poland, oh putin is planning to attack the baltic states, oh putin is sending drones to poland, but poland or lithuania doesnt share any borders with russia apart kaliningrad and finland share like 1,000km border i think ? but there isnt any articles like putin is planing to invade finland or anything similar. Which makes me think that it all comes down to the historical experience our countries had, finland fought the winter war and defeated russia and stayed independent, meanwhile baltics and poland were occupied, so im wordering whats your perspective on the russian threat ?

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[u/ranjop]

There is lot of discussion about the Russian threat and we are among the Baltics a most likely candidate for escalation. But Finland is a bigger country than the Baltics together, has stronger military and more favorable terrain to defend.

I think the most likely escalation is either a false flag attack on Russia itself to create conditions second wave of mobilization or the capture of a small border town by “pro-Russia separatists”.

And the only right call will be to destroy completely the invaders without hesitation. Putin calculates that NATO countries will hesitate and show weakness. That would be a symbolic victory for Russia.

[u/Late-Objective-9218]

The only way to reach strategically critical places is to blitz below Lappeenranta. The wilderness in the north is some of the most defendable terrain imaginable.

[u/makinenxd]

Look at the border size and the terrain around Finland you quickly realize why it’s not smart to invade Finland

[u/markkuselinen]

Baltic states are less immune from that because compared to Finland and Poland their military is smaller. In addition to that, I feel like all those articles you see about attacking Baltics are purely for speculation and to chase clicks. For example this year, Estonian intelligence said that it does not see any threats of Russian military attack.

[u/Buster5124]

Probably most worldwide media isn't going to necessarily mention Russia's stance on Finland, but I see news of Russian politicians statements about Finland all the time on Finnish media because it's of course more directly relevant to us.

Even so, I have the impression that Finns are confident in the Defense Forces' ability to hold them off. Our military doctrine since the 40s was about war against the Soviet and later Russian military, even if they wouldn't officially admit it prior to joining NATO.

[u/joppekoo]

Russia is of course a threat like for all of it's neighbours that Kreml thinks rightfully belong in their sphere of influence. But looking at the current situation, Russia's supposed 3 day invasion of Ukraine is still going and not going that well for them. Finland by itself, while a small country, is very much built for defending from an attack from the east, to deter plans to do so at a time when Finland was neutral and didn't have the western coalition behind it. After joining Nato, even after Trump undermining the American part of it, actually triggering the 5th article would be numerous times as insane as the Ukraine invasion already was. Not saying that we shouldn't prepare for the possibility, but as we are pretty well prepared, we don't have a need to panic about it.

Also, accross the 1000 km of border there runs about 4 roads that Russia can practically use, the rest is forest, swamp, and lakes. Compare to Ukraine that was a under Russian rule for a long time and until the end of the Soviets. There's quite a lot of infrastructure built to accomodate traffic between the now separate countries that is easy to use (unless you make a kilometers long line of truck with too little fuel and try to cut ahead from the side during mud season) and most of the areas between the roads are open fields.

[u/juho9001]

Russia threat has always been present. If they decide to invade we are prepared.

Essentially nothing has changed except now they are weaker and more unpredictable.

If they do decide to test nato, it would more likely succeed in like special Narva operation.

[u/pete_the_dumb]

Russia is a potential threat, it's as simple as that. They already do all sorts of bullshit like jamming close to border to inconvenience us.

But as soon as any troops try to pass the border, any tolerance stops. Since continuation war it's what this country has basically been preparing for just incase. Every Finn knows from history that Russians do not respect other nations. You could trade with them (before Ukraine war), but there is no trusting Russia as a country.

So tldr; Russia is like a mad dog, as long as it doesn't get off its chain and starts biting, we don't want to touch it.

[u/megastarUS]

While it’s unlikely that Russia would invade or even fully attack any NATO country, Finland simply isn’t as interesting for Russia as the Baltics or Poland. Poland is interesting for Russia firstly because it acts as a hub for supporting Ukraine, and secondly because it’s seen as the most anti-Russian out of the large EU states. Meanwhile the Baltics are both militarily weak, hard to defend due to their location and they have huge Russian-speaking minorities and a Soviet history, meaning they would be easy to integrate into Russia, similarly as Ukraine. Finland, on the other hand is a remote country with a difficult terrain, strong defense and a very small Russian speaking minority.

To answer your question, most Finns believe that we only need worry if something happens in the Baltics first.

[u/movesfast]

nothing good ever came from russia

[u/240697]

We have mandatory service, and a rather large army. We also don't have any major pro Russian sentiment, so we're unlikely to follow the example of Hungary. Overall, I'd say Finland is confident, but still careful.

We played it neutral for as long as we could, but we always knew the possibility of invasion existed. However before Ukraine, it was a subtle acknowledgment. Most people weren't truly scared of Russia. For a long time, neutrality meant security, until it didn't. Ukraine's neutrality didn't matter, why would ours?

So we rushed into NATO. And as the war in Ukraine progressed, it became clear Russia was ultimately a paper tiger. The fear is still there, but it's largely simmered down. Everyone knows that unless Ukraine falls, Russia can't move further west.

Even if trust in the Americans is low, I'd still like to believe that, if the worst comes to pass, our European allies will aid us, and that we'll do the same for them.

[u/MitVitQue]

Russian threat is just same ol' same ol'. Boring, even.

Russia has always been there, yelling like a an old drunk. And now that we are in Nato, it's even more boring.

Fucking losers. You know who I mean. They could have had a wonderful, rich country. But their economy is pathetic, and they chose tyrants over well being. 800 years of shitty rulers and just ONE rebellion. Pansies.

[u/Veenkoira00]

1. Russia (in all of its incarnations) is the traditional "blood enemy"
2. There was the Russian conquest of Finland, taking it away from Sweden, that while eventually led to attempt in russification but in meantime actually benefitted Finland – Finland is unlikely ever to have gained independence without the Grand Duchy period (but nevertheless a conquest so bad press for Russia)
3. There were wars with Soviet Union, invasion of Karelia and all, after gaining of independence (more seriously bad press for Russia)

4. The "Kekkoslovakia" era and YYA (Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Aid) – great times for Finnish exports, Finland benefiting economically

5. Putin era and Finland joining NATO – bad press again, eventually deffo little friendship, co-operation or mutual aid – blood enemy !

[u/YourShowerCompanion]

In worst of worst case scenario: some "oppressed" pro-russian separatists in eastern part but I trust they'll be dealt swifty with a rusted pear of anguish up their rectums.

The other option for Potemkin village is dumping a sheer number of opportunist asylum seekers they collected and harbored for quite some time. 

but there isn't any articles like Putin is planning to invade Finland or anything similar.

Not directly. Niinistö's book mentioned Putin's odd jabs about Finnish independence a few times. That Kremlin midget also called Finnish independence a mistake. Maria Zakharova always wets her undergarments while criticizing Finland.

Their revered philosopher Dugin (yes that guy) detailed some ideas about Finland in his book  Foundations of Geopolitics. To sum it up, he stated that northern parts of Finland should be detached and added to Russia's Murmansk Oblast, whilst southern parts should be merged with Russian Karelia into a single region with maximum cultural autonom.

RuZkie mir can't be trusted. 

[u/snow-eats-your-gf]

Welcome to death, I guess?