Finland on Russia's desire to shift sea border: Causing confusion is hybrid influence
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (Getty Images)
Finland intends to investigate the details of Russia's unilateral plans to alter the country's maritime borders in the Baltic Sea, according to Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.
"According to media reports, Russia might revise the definitions of maritime zones in the Gulf of Finland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is looking into the details," she said.
The minister reminded that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea contains provisions on the determination and revision of coastal states' maritime zones.
"We assume that Russia, as a participant in the Convention, will act accordingly. It should be noted that causing confusion is also a form of hybrid influence. Finland will not be unsettled by this," Valtonen said.
Russia decides to shift border in Baltic Sea
Recently, it became known that the Russian Ministry of Defense has prepared a decree according to which Moscow will unilaterally shift the maritime borders with Lithuania and Finland in the Baltic Sea.
Russia might attack Baltic States
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted Western countries to seriously consider the possibility of an attack by the Russian Federation on NATO members. Among the potential targets, many experts cite the Baltic States: Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
Recently, Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, said that Russia could capture the Baltic States in seven days. He also suggested that NATO's response to such an attack would be more prolonged.
The Baltic countries have long felt vulnerable in the face of Russian aggression. They have repeatedly called for increased NATO presence in the region, which the North Atlantic Alliance has duly provided.
