International Minister Elina Valtonen on Finland’s NATO accession, Russian threats, and Israeli deal vs Gaza stance.
Because the easternmost European Union member, Finland, traditionally impartial, pivots in direction of NATO in response to Russia’s Ukraine invasion, new geopolitical challenges come up: elevated Russian espionage, cyberattacks and potential election interference, the Finnish authorities says.
Moreover, a surge of asylum seekers, allegedly directed by Russia, strains stability.
Amid these tensions, Finland’s $345m Israeli defence deal, which many see as conflicting with its stance on Gaza, sparks debate.
Discussing these advanced points, Finnish International Minister Elina Valtonen talks to Al Jazeera.