Russia Expels Finnish Diplomats and Closes Consulate in St. Petersburg
In a move aimed at garnering attention from Helsinki and Washington, Russia has withdrawn its consent for Finland to operate its consulate in St. Petersburg and has expelled nine Finnish diplomats. The decision comes just days before the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and President Biden’s visit to Finland.
The expulsion of diplomats appears to be a tit-for-tat retaliation, following Finland’s announcement last month that it would expel nine Russian diplomats. However, the closure of the Finnish Consulate in St. Petersburg suggests an escalation designed to attract the attention of both the Finnish and American governments.
In announcing the decision, Russia’s Foreign Ministry linked it to Finland’s expulsion of Russian diplomats and its recent membership in NATO. The ministry stated that Finland’s potential accession to NATO poses a security threat to Russia, and accused the West of encouraging the Kyiv regime to go to war against Russia.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto responded to the measures, calling them “harsh and unsymmetrical” and stating that Finland was preparing similar actions. He also noted that the counterpart to Finland’s consulate in St. Petersburg is the Russian consulate in the Finnish city of Turku.
The conflict between Russia and Finland stems from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which prompted the previously nonaligned Finland to seek NATO membership. Finland officially joined the alliance earlier this year and will participate in the upcoming NATO summit as a full-fledged member.
Despite condemning Finland’s membership bid, Russia’s response has so far been relatively muted, consisting mainly of rhetoric and vague threats. Thursday’s actions by Russia, including the expulsion of diplomats and closure of the consulate, seem to be more of a symbolic show.
Finnish Ambassador Antti Helantera was summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry to receive a note of protest. The ministry criticized Finland’s confrontational anti-Russian policy and accused the Finnish authorities of dismantling the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city and the closest major city to Finland, has historically had a high volume of trade and contacts with its Nordic neighbor. The closure of the consulate is expected to have significant implications for bilateral relations and trade.
As tensions between Russia and Finland continue to rise, it remains to be seen how both countries and their allies will respond to these recent developments. The situation will likely be a topic of discussion at the NATO summit and during President Biden’s visit to Finland.
Understanding the Russia-Ukraine Conflict:
In related news, it is essential to understand the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine to grasp the context of the tensions between Russia and Finland. The conflict between the two countries began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and a significant humanitarian crisis. The international community has condemned Russia’s actions and imposed sanctions, but a lasting resolution to the conflict remains elusive.
(3 more stories about the Russia-Ukraine conflict can be found on the original article page)
Sources:
– Russia Expels Finnish Diplomats and Closes Consulate in St. Petersburg (original article)
– Understanding the Russia-Ukraine Conflict (additional information)