Finland has by far the largest border with Russia in the E.U., at approximately 1350 kilometres long. The relationship between the two countries, which has been peaceful and co-operative for decades despite their tumultuous shared history, has now begun to weaken. Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland has drastically changed its foreign policy with regards to Russia. The biggest of these changes was the nation’s decision to apply for N.A.T.O. membership, which was granted three months ago on April 4^th. Finland has also provided weapons to Ukraine, stopped importing Russian oil, and banned Russian citizens from entering Finland on tourist visas.

On June 19^th, Finnish Foreign Trade and Development Minister Ville Tavio told Finnish news outlet YLE that Finland may go as far as to cut aid to countries who support Putin’s war. This aid will be redirected, Tavio said, making Ukraine “a new recipient country.” Although other countries which would receive the redirected aid were not mentioned by name, Tavio indicated that they were African. The Finnish Foreign Ministry lists Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, and Tanzania as Finland’s main bilateral partners in Africa.

Despite the strength of Finland’s message, many Finns nevertheless remain concerned over possible Russian retaliation. The fear of military, economic, or political backlash from Russia has long restrained Finnish decision-making, despite the peaceful relationship the two countries maintained during the Cold War. For example, concern that Russia would punish joining N.A.T.O. through military or economic attack has kept Finland from applying for membership until now. Before the invasion of Ukraine, Finland was dependent on Russia for fuel and energy resources, so economic sanctions could have had harsh effects. However, it seems that Finland has decided that the benefits to joining N.A.T.O. now outweigh the costs, particularly when one considers that the war in Ukraine has already led to Finnish instability.

To protect itself against military and economic retaliation from Russia, it is imperative that Finland look toward Europe. Although its admission to N.A.T.O. was a huge decision, Finland’s most important “security community” will be the E.U.; as a policy-making body, the E.U. has the ability to implement impactful foreign policies which could affect Russia economically and politically. One way Finland could increase its integration with the E.U. would be to advocate for qualified majority voting in the E.U.’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, which would allow the bloc to make decisions without a single country blocking or delaying the process. In such a time of crisis, this move may be necessary to make quick, impactful decisions.

Finland’s actions have made it very clear that the nation is deeply critical of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and that Russia’s actions in that country have shattered the once co-operative relationship it had with Finland. Joining N.A.T.O. has undoubtedly made a huge impact; Finland’s entry more than doubles the size of N.A.T.O.’s border with Russia, although this decision may only spur on military conflict by inciting a Russian military response. In contrast to this, Finland’s decisions to stop importing its oil from Russia and to ban Russian citizens from its borders send its neighbour a huge message without as much possibility of sparking military conflict. All of these methods have shown that Finland has fully committed to its criticism of Russia.