The upcoming Finnish presidential election marks the end of President Sauli Niinistö's time in office after 12 years. Named a "Putin whisperer" by the media for his enduring contacts with the Kremlin before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Niinistö played an important part in the process leading up to Finland gaining its official NATO membership in April 2023.
Experts say the candidates in the running for President have appeared to have put on a better-united front than in previous elections on key topics, including maintaining aid to Ukraine.
"As Finland shares the longest border of any NATO member with Russia, it has been necessary to at least have a composed relationship [amongst candidates] to some degree, while being firm on where Finland stands as an EU and NATO member," Robert Eklund, chair of the board at the Finnish security policy think tank Elisabeth Rehn - Bank of Ideas, told Defense News.
"All candidates running have been unwavering in their support for Ukraine, and that is one of the key things they have in common - a resolve to support Ukraine for as long as it needs it," he added.
Frontrunner and former Finnish prime minister, Alexander Stubb has pledged unconditional support to Kyiv during an interview with Reuters and called on Moscow to put an end to its assault. Most contenders have openly expressed no desire to engage with Moscow until its leadership ends the full-scale war it's waging against Kyiv. The Finnish presidential election will prove all the more important as it comes before the Russian election, scheduled for mid-March.
Alleged Violation of Sanctions with Russia
According to an article in Trendy Digest, recent investigations have revealed approximately 20 Finnish companies have continued to export defense items and equipment to Russia potentially putting them in violation of international sanctions. The Finnish entities are primarily small logistics firms with connections to Russia, which supply a variety of products that can be utilized in military applications, such as sensors, diesel engines, fuel pumps, and vehicle transmission parts. Conspicuously, some of these Western elements have been found in Russian military hardware that was destroyed in Ukraine.
Trendy Digest also reveals that public procurement records show that at least two clients of one of the Finnish companies are linked to FSB, Russia's federal security service. The inquiry has also touched on the illegal export of drones, with Finnish customs suspecting two Finnish companies of exporting drones and other military products worth over 3 million euros to Russia, contravening EU sanctions. Nearly 3,500 drones are believed to have reached Russia as a result, along with microcontrollers, semiconductor devices, and defense materials intended to disable drones. The investigation implicates six individuals, with one being detained since last September.
These ongoing exports starkly contrast with Finland's official stance, which includes providing Ukraine with defense and humanitarian support in the wake of Russia's military aggression.
The Finnish presidential election is scheduled to take place on Jan. 28.
