Report from Finland: Impacts since joining NATO in 2023

 

From September the 'Defence Cooperation Agreement' (DCA)  with USA is valid. Here in the North of Finland, the USA has got two places for restoring of weapons and materials (Kemi and Tervola), one airport (Rovaniemi) one garnizone (Sodankylä) and one frontier guard in Ivalo – right in the North-East of Lapland near the Russian Border. The distance between Murmansk and Ivalo is less than 300 kms.

The spirit in Finland is depressive, since we joined NATO and since our parliament approved the DCA. The people was never asked – joining the NATO was made on false polls. For many reasons we are told lies all the time. Russia has repeatedly said that they do not plan to attack Finland, but still we are fed up with stories of 'the Russian threats'. The private discussions get more and more important to keep us in the reality.

These decisions become very expensive for the population. The social and health care are cut and diminished. The roads which have been neglected for years are now suddenly prepared for NATO´s needs. The railway infrastructure is planned to be changed in order to fit the width of the West-European rails, which is a little more narrow than the Finnish railway, which was built from 1862 on, during the Russian era (1809 – 1917). 

This is a shame because we have a population getting old, needing care, and our children need education and support as well. The regime talks like our security is depending on violence and weapons – even nuclear – instead of human understanding, diplomacy and cooperation.

This map is before Finland joined NATO in 2023

If we are sincere, we cannot say that this change of strategy is due to Russian aggression. Russia did make diplomatic efforts to try to get negotiations about European security before the war in Ukraine. Ever since the coup in Kiev 2014, Russia tried eagerly to get diplomatic solutions to the situation, that was very dangerous for Russian speakers [in the Donbass of eastern Ukraine], other minorities for some political parties and so on.

I live in Lapland about 100 kms north from the Arctic circle. I enjoy the life here with friendly neighbors, with the nature round the corner and rather cool weather as well. Sometimes it is hard when the cold and darkness is strong. Last winter we had for a couple of weeks of 40 degrees Celsius and a long time -30 degrees. But because it is hard, people help each other despite of differences in political or other opinions.

The reindeers are around and need good surroundings. When they are making the infrastructure for NATO – they neglect the needs of the reindeer herders. For instance they plan to build new roads for strategic reasons right through the areas where the reindeers need space and peace for living.

Before, when our politicians had diplomatic relations as the key for our security, we could cooperate with all our neighbors in a peaceful way with the benefits of all. If the NATO occupies Lapland like Hitler´s Germany did 1941, the living here is getting restricted and difficult.

The nature needs peace and so do we human beings also.

Greetings to all our friends around the world!

Kerstin Tuomala, Finland