Finland reportedly is worried that Russia could attack it and neighboring countries once Moscow's war with Ukraine is over, Newsweek reported on Monday.
The publication cited Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, which reported that an alleged Finland government defense report said unnamed NATO sources had issued the warning and referred to how Russia had rehearsed an attack on Norway, Finland, and the Baltic countries during a military exercise in 2017 and that those plans have not been abandoned.
The Finnish Defense Forces said in a statement to Newsweek that it would not comment on media reports, but that "there is no immediate military threat to Finland."
Nevertheless, Vice Adm. Douglas Perry, a U.S. Navy officer who led a NATO exercise earlier this year in which 20,000 soldiers were transferred to Northern Norway and Finnish Lapland, told the Finnish paper that Russia was designated as a direct threat to NATO, which practiced operations needed "to repel the Russian invaders."
The report cited by Iltalehti said that Moscow's invasion of Ukraine "has shown that Russia is prepared to take significant risks regardless of losses."
Iltalehti also reported that NATO sources had said Moscow might plan a simultaneous attack on different parts of the alliance's eastern flank.
The newspaper went on to state that Moscow's plans include Russia attempting to create a buffer zone in Northern Lapland and Finnmark in Norway, while its missiles would target the southern coast of Finland and southeastern Finland.
"Russia's security thinking reflects the pursuit of strategic depth and the desire to create a single buffer zone in Europe, from the Arctic through the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea to the Mediterranean," the Finnish government report said, according to the paper.
Speculation about Russia having a long-term plan to invade NATO countries is likely to continue, but the alliance has warned of the immediate threat posed by Moscow's so-called hybrid attacks, according to Newsweek.
These include the alleged cutting of energy and communications cables in the Baltic Sea.
Finland has taken control of an oil tanker allegedly belonging to Russia's so-called shadow fleet, which was suspected of damaging five submarine cables last week.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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