The Finnish Government has secured the support of all political parties to build a metal barrier in the “weakest sections” of the border with Russia, with the aim of curbing “irregular migration”.

The proposal has come from the hand of Finland’s Border Guard and this Tuesday they have received the support of all parliamentary groups, from left to right. “We want to ensure that the border is well preserved and able to anticipate what may happen,” said Social Democrat Sanna Marin, Finnish Prime Minister.

Although the project is still not fully closed, it envisages the construction of a metal barrier. At the top, a narrow deck filled with small sharp knives will be placed and forged with video cameras “high-risk border sections”. In general, the barrier will extend from 130 to 260 kilometres, which is 10 to 20 per cent of the 1,340 kilometre limit between Finland and Russia.

Initially, a section of about three kilometres will be built, as evidence, on the south-east border of Finland, in the area closest to St. Petersburg. This tranche will cost around EUR 6 million. Construction of the full fence is expected to last for four years.

In the face of the Finnish decision to join NATO, the Russian Government was aggressive, and on more than one occasion Finland was warned that NATO forces “have brought to their doorstep” will have serious consequences. Finland has taken advantage of the situation to tighten borders, trying to deal with the possibility of Russia using migration as a weapon, in a migratory crisis similar to that which occurred at the end of 2021 on the border between Poland and Belarus.

In any case, it is clear that the main victims will again be the people, the migrants who will have to cross that border. They will face more deadly obstacles than before.