Russia “poses a permanent threat to the European Union”, says Finland
The Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, hosted a summit on security and immigration, in the presence of the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and his Swedish counterparts, Ulf Kristersson , and Greek, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mr. Orpo said that “the security situation has changed”. “Russia constitutes a permanent and dangerous threat to the European Union [UE] and European countries »he declared. “The defense of Europe must be strengthened by all means possible, we must explore all financial options”continued the head of the Finnish government, without mentioning concrete plans to increase budgets.
Mme Kallas also stated that “Russia represents a direct threat to European security”while noting that “security includes different elements”. “We are seeing different hybrid attacks across Europe, from sabotage, cyberattacks, dangerous ghost fleets, to GPS jamming and cable damage. [de télécommunication en mer Baltique]but also of a militarization of migration »she added.
Finland has accused Moscow of orchestrating an influx of migrants to its eastern border with Russia, with the arrival in autumn 2023 of around 1,000 illegal immigrants. Orpo said securing Finland's 1,340-kilometre border with Russia “is an existential question for Finland and for other EU members and NATO allies”. He also pleaded for the “continued support for Ukraine as long and as necessary”.
