As I gazed out from the Finnish patrol ship’s deck, I witnessed armed individuals descending from a helicopter and launching an assault on the vessel. The masked guards swiftly advanced to the bridge, vociferously asserting their authority. Fortunately, this was merely a practice exercise conducted by the Finnish Border Guard, responsible for safeguarding an 830-mile border along NATO’s eastern perimeter, particularly against Russia. In addition to monitoring Putin’s clandestine fleet in the Gulf of Finland, the force has conducted operations on vessels suspected of tampering with essential undersea cables.
Demonstrating a simulation of how they would take over a suspicious ship, camouflaged men showcased their skills to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper during her recent visit to Finland and Norway. The proximity to Russia felt palpable as we boarded the Turva, an offshore patrol vessel, in Helsinki, overlooking the Gulf of Finland, whose icy waters extend to St Petersburg in the Baltic Sea’s easternmost region.
With Russia’s close proximity, Finland grapples with Putin’s disruptive strategies and hybrid warfare. Ms. Cooper’s trip highlighted the significant threat posed by Russia’s covert fleet to Britain. In our conversation, she intensified her call for decisive action to combat the network of aging oil tankers operating under questionable flags. These vessels not only assist in funding Putin’s illicit activities in Ukraine but are also implicated in sabotaging undersea cables crucial for telecommunications and energy supply infrastructure.
The UK is reportedly exploring the legality of using military force to intercept these vessels following its involvement in a recent operation alongside US special forces targeting a tanker linked to Russia. The visit of the Foreign Secretary to the region coincided with escalating tensions over the Arctic.
Rising sea temperatures due to climate change have triggered geopolitical tensions as new maritime routes open up and natural resources become more accessible due to melting ice. The issue gained international attention following Donald Trump’s mention of annexing Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Britain aims to demonstrate its capability in shaping the security landscape of the High North in collaboration with NATO allies. However, potential actions by the US President could disrupt these efforts.
