Finland Erects Fence on Russian Border for Security and NATO Protection

Finland has unveiled the first section of a 200-kilometer border fence with Russia, costing around 380 million euros ($417 million) and due to be completed by 2026. The fence is being built due to a change in the security situation in Europe and to reduce dependence on the effectiveness of Russian border control. About 70% of the fence will be erected on the southeast, with several smaller sections planned for central Finland and the largely uninhabited Arctic border in Lapland. Finland joined NATO just a week ago and its 1,300-kilometer border has also doubled the frontier between the U.S.-led military alliance and Russia.