Finnish Journalist Highlights Kremlin's Miscalculation in Intimidation Tactics Towards Finland

Veteran Finnish journalist Arja Paananen has critically assessed the Kremlin's approach to Finland, asserting that Russia's intimidation tactics are counterproductive. In a recent tweet, Paananen, known for her extensive reporting on Russia, stated, > "Venäjällä herran pelko on yhtä kuin kunnioituksen alku, mutta Kremlissä ei näytetä vieläkään ymmärrettävän sitä, että Suomessa pelottelija menettää kaiken vähäisenkin kunnioituksensa." (In Russia, the fear of the lord is the beginning of respect, but in the Kremlin, it still doesn't seem to be understood that in Finland, an intimidator loses all little respect.)

Paananen, a special correspondent for Ilta-Sanomat and named Journalist of the Year 2024, has covered Russia for over three decades. Her critical reporting led to Russian authorities effectively barring her from the country in 2022 by failing to renew her visa and press accreditation, a move she believes stemmed from an editorial she wrote about a Vladimir Putin speech. Her deep understanding of Russian affairs lends significant weight to her observations on Moscow's foreign policy.

Russia has intensified its hybrid warfare against Finland, particularly following Finland's accession to NATO. Tactics include military buildups along the shared border, extensive information confrontation campaigns, cyber-attacks, and the weaponization of migration. Prominent Russian figures, such as Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, have openly mocked Finland's NATO entry and issued stark warnings, including promises of an "apocalyptic end" if Western security demands are not met.

Despite these pressures, Finland has largely maintained a steadfast stance. The Finnish Defence Forces have assessed that Russia will likely increase hybrid methods to sow disunity within NATO and the EU. However, Finnish authorities have responded by strengthening border security, reassessing maritime borders, and implementing stricter property purchasing laws for foreign nationals in strategic areas. This resilience underscores Paananen's point that intimidation alienates rather than coerces the Finnish populace and leadership.

The ongoing situation highlights a fundamental divergence in strategic thinking between Moscow and Helsinki. While Russia perceives its aggressive posturing as a means to assert dominance and demand respect, Finland, along with other Nordic nations, views such actions as a breach of international norms, leading to a loss of trust and a strengthening of resolve to enhance national and collective security.