Russia ramps up nuclear buildup near Finland, raising Cold War fears
Photo: Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen (Getty Images)
Russia is building up its military and nuclear forces in the Arctic and constructing new military facilities along the border with Finland. It resembles the Cold War period and requires heightened attention from NATO allies, says Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen in an interview with Euronews.
Read also: UK doubles Arctic troop presence amid rising Russian threat
Russia’s strategic hub is the Kola Peninsula
The minister noted that Russia’s key strategic potential in the region is concentrated on the Kola Peninsula, where nuclear weapons, submarines, and long-range bombers are deployed.
That is why the Arctic remains a critically important area for European defense.
He added that Russia has concentrated its greatest strategic potential in the area of the Kola Peninsula. It covers an area of 100,000 square kilometers. It includes nuclear weapons, submarines, and long-range bombers.
Finland strengthens its own defense capabilities
Antti Häkkänen noted that NATO forces need to increase vigilance in the High North. Finland is participating in the SAFE program, which provides funding for joint defense procurement within the EU.
The country is expected to receive about $1 billion, a significant portion of which is planned for armored vehicles and drones for the ground forces.
Europe needs US support
The Finnish minister also stressed that in the short- and medium-term, European countries still need a US military presence to ensure security, despite Europe’s intentions to strengthen its own defense capabilities.
“In the longer term, it would be better that the Europeans have their strong capabilities. But in the short, and even mid-term, we need the US. It's crucial to European security,” Häkkänen said.
Background
The media reported earlier that Russia already controls a substantial part of the Arctic region. It owns about half of the land north of the Arctic Circle and nearly two-thirds of the region’s GDP.
Against this backdrop, the White House said that due to growing military risks in the region, Washington is forced to strengthen its own role in ensuring Arctic security.
The United States is also seeking to limit Russia’s and China’s ability to extract mineral resources in Greenland.
