GUEST COLUMN: Russia appreciates Finnish security policy

Strong national defence distinguishes Finland from many other Baltic Sea states

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By Juha Mäkelä and Hanna Smith
     
      The importance of cooperation among countries of the Baltic Sea region has been emphasised in various connections in recent years. One good example of this is the Baltic Sea summit held in Helsinki on February 10th. Relations among the countries of the region have a powerful influence on how the cooperation works, and what results it brings.
      Countries of the Baltic Sea area have plenty of common history. Today, all of the countries are members of the European Union, except Russia, whose identity is based on great-power thinking.
     
What makes Russia a great power is open to various opinions. From Finland’s point of view, possibly the most important is that in great power thinking, different countries are on an unequal footing.
      Small countries have a number of options: forming an alliance, submitting to being in the sphere of interest of one great power, balancing between great powers, or neutrality. In the post Cold War world, the borderlines between the options have become less distinct, and drawing clear lines in security policy, for instance, is no simple task. In some cases it even involves taking risks.
     
In this respect Russia is a special challenge for Finland. It is not easy for a small country to hold a balance right next to a great power. Throughout its history, Russia has had 24 different countries on its border, 17 of which have been part of the country at some point in its history. Different experiences of being Russia’s neighbour are largely a basis for what their policy toward Russia is. As a neighbour, Russia is hard to pass by, which is reflected well in cooperation in the Baltic Sea.
      Russia has its own views of its neighbours. Some of the neighbours are seen to be hostile and anti-Russian, while others get a good grade.
      In assessments by the Russian Foreign Ministry on countries on the Baltic Sea, Finland fares well, if it is compared with Estonia, Poland, and Sweden. Denmark and Norway would also seem to have good relations with Russia.
      Finland’s ties with Russia have sometimes been described as being good to an embarrassing degree. Compared with Estonia or Poland, relations are very good indeed - even excellent. Compared with Germany, Finland’s relations with Russia are closer to satisfactory; however, we can describe the relations as good, rather than bad.
     
What might be the reason for the positive attitude that the Russians have toward Finland? Finland is not a great power with whom cooperation would promote stature on the world stage. Russia has not benefited from Finland in its policies toward the EU as it might have wanted when our country joined the European Union. In addition, there is plenty of sharp criticism toward Russia that exists in Finland, and our common history is not all that simple.
      Technological cooperation between Finland and Russia is certainly valuable for Russia, and many Russians travel to Finland on holidays. However, Finland is not unique for Russia in this respect.
      From the Russian point of view, the cornerstones of cooperation are respect and appreciation. Courage and patriotism are important for Russians. A good example of this is the medals granted by the Russian state: the medal of Hero of the Russian Federation, and the Medal for Valour. Both medals are connected with patriotism, courage, and often war as well.
     
An examination involving security policy could offer some answers to why Finland is appreciated in Russia. This is an aspect that is rarely considered very much.
      In countries that are burdened by a common history with Russia, various security policy solutions appear. Estonia and Poland have resorted to NATO. Sweden, meanwhile, has scaled back its national defence, because no threat of war is imminent. This way of thinking is based on the fact that a country the size of Sweden could not manage to defend its own territory with its own armed forces alone.
      In Finland the thinking has been different. Our defence continues to lean strongly on national defence. If we are attacked, the best way to prevail is to have a credible regional defence system and a “spirit of the Winter War”.
      Russia’s official speeches and documents reveal irritation on the part of Russia’s foreign policy leadership toward the Estonians and the Poles, among others. Russia respects Sweden for its history as a great power, but the security policy implemented by Sweden is too modern for Russia’s way of thinking. The Finnish policy line is clear-cut for Russia: in an extreme situation our country will defend its existence with armed force.
     
The special relationship between Finland and Russia is based, therefore, primarily on a balanced and wise foreign policy, as well as a thorough knowledge of the Russian way of thinking. On the other hand, the appreciation that Finland enjoys in Russia stems from a deeper history and mental images.
      History has taught that in both good and bad times, Finnish security policy decisions should include a strong national defence, regardless of whether or not we become members of NATO. Even a small country can be strong in world politics in the 21st century, if it manages to flexibly combine its own common security in both multilateral and bilateral security cooperation.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 25.2.2010
     
     
Major Juha Mäkelä is a researcher at the Finnish National Defence University's Department of Strategic and Defence Studies, and Hanna Smith is a researcher at the Aleksanteri Institute - the Finnish Centre for Russian and Eastern European Studies, affiliated with the University of Helsinki.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Countries make few binding commitments at Baltic Sea summit (11.2.2010)
  Estonian military source: Increased Russian naval activity in Baltic Sea (27.1.2010)
  Russian Defence Ministry website criticises Finnish views of Continuation War (11.12.2009)
  Häkämies: Russia remains key security challenge for Finland (10.9.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat