Finnish policy makers have tentatively approved Finnish Border Guard plans to construct a 130-260km border fence between their country and Russia. The border fence will stretch across Southeastern Finland where major routes connect St. Petersburg, Russia and Helsinki, Finland. However, the Border Guard did not propose to create a border fence over the entire 1,300km border with the Russian Federation.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) called a cross-party meeting of leaders on Tuesday evening to discuss the proposal, and where it received widespread backing. Marin had told reporters as she arrived at the meeting that the political support for the proposal is so strong because the Border Guard’s view is trusted.
“It is about being able to make sure that the border is well controlled and we can preemptively influence the situations that may occur at the border,” Marin said. Both the opposition National Coalition Party and the Finns Party delegates agreed.
