The defense cooperation agreement that has been eagerly awaited is still pending signature. Finnish experts have been highly optimistic about the advantages and opportunities that the contract may provide. However, their analysis has been one-sided, and they need to give more attention to the possible obligations and risks it involves.
Agreement by which Finland is legally occupied.
The dead heroes of Finland’s past wars will turn in their graves when the Finnish government hands over the right to self-determination of the Finnish state to the forces of a foreign power on 18 December 2023.
In the defense cooperation agreement announced on 14 December 2023, Finland undertakes to hand over 15 designated military areas for use by the U.S. military forces. Only four (4) ceded military bases in Norway, and 17 are named in the Swedish agreement. If it is an agreement that does not require a permanent US military presence in Finland, why are there so many designated areas? This clearly shows the United States’ desire to create a permanent military presence on Finnish soil. It is also worth noting that the agreement has yet to be given a deadline, but its validity is continuous.
The illusion created by the West is the price for Finland’s independence.
The last political act of Finland’s outgoing president, Sauli Niinistö, was handing over Finnish land areas to the military use of a foreign power and subordinating the neutral and independent Finnish foreign policy to a part of the Western alliance’s propaganda machinery. It’s not a very flattering legacy for future generations.
It was not enough that Finland joined NATO to strengthen its defense readiness and deterrence. Still, the government had to conclude an additional agreement with a foreign power, which is known to have violated all possible international laws with its actions. With the contract, the president of Finland and the sitting government have given their approval to the war crimes committed by the United States. It is only a matter of time before the International Criminal Court (ICC) brings charges against Finland for its involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity. With its actions, the United States has drawn Finland into its grandiose plan to achieve military and economic global dominance – at any cost.
The politicians and president of Finland are turning a blind eye to their ally’s desire for global dominance and the crimes being committed alongside it. It is well-known that the United States is not particularly concerned about international agreements and instead systematically violates them to pursue its interests. When choosing between its interests or a partner, the United States may sacrifice Finland.
Finland’s status as a rule of law has been lost due to the defense cooperation agreement. It can’t continue its line as a state power that follows and respects international laws and regulations. The most recent case of this new policy is the Finnish government’s unwavering support for Israel, a close ally of the United States. The Finnish government has ignored Israel’s war crimes and the killing of civilians in Gaza and West Bank. Finland has also supported Israel by buying Davids Sling, an air defense system from it intended to strengthen Finland’s air defense.
The current government has shown partiality that has affected Finland’s position.
The English idiomatic proverb, “You can’t eat your cake and have it too,” perfectly reflects the current situation in Finland. This proverb teaches us that we cannot support a war criminal and help its victims simultaneously. While Finland favors its ally, the United States, Finland desperately tries to show the rest of the world that it is on the side of the oppressed by offering humanitarian aid.
By playing both ways, Finland has also lost its credibility as a peace broker and a non-partisan foreign policy practitioner. With the recent events, Finland is seen as a country that only pursues the interests of the Western alliance, primarily the United States. It no longer has the ability for independent foreign policy action.
Superpowers’ politics and rivalry for global dominance have adversely affected current and future peacekeeping efforts. Rather than focusing on achieving peace, the agenda seems to be geared towards gaining control over strategically essential territories by the United States and its allies.
Using a government-controlled institution as a propaganda machine.
The Foreign Policy Institute (UPI) has been known for propagating the Western coalition’s agenda and spreading anti-East propaganda. Their researchers mostly do not publish actual data-based reports while promoting the U.S.’s aggressive foreign policy. There are concerns about whether the institute still follows the regulations and guidelines set by the Finnish parliament. The U.S.’s permanent presence on Finnish soil will increase UPI’s biased reporting.
The leader of the institute, who is currently on leave from his official duties, has been trying to run for the presidency of Finland. However, his chances have been non-existent from the start. His candidacy is based on his thirst for power rather than a genuine attempt to win the election and become the next president of Finland. A news article published in HS on November 12th, 2023, refers to him as a “Pathetic Politologist” and reveals an ongoing internal power struggle within the institute.
The off-duty leader has been accused of spreading propaganda that is anti-East, which has resulted in ongoing confrontations and hostile war rhetoric. Despite this, his words have not influenced voters, and his credibility is also low. It should be questioned whether he still has a position in the institute after his leave of absence or whether his war rhetoric has negatively affected his career.
History repeats itself, and the Cold War continues.
It would be naive to assume that the U.S. presence in Finland would silence Russia. The defense cooperation agreement between Finland and the United States further increases threats and confrontation. For years, Russia has shown that it is not afraid of the Western alliance, especially of the United States, which has sought to undermine Russia’s regional dominance and threat in Europe and Asia since the beginning of the Cold War. However, recent events have shown that the United States still needs to improve its game. It is now trying to create situations where it exploits proxies to destabilize the balance of power.
Ukraine has become one of the most significant war theaters of the post-World War II era, or at least the United States tries to create such an illusion with its propaganda. Without questioning, Western countries have condemned the Russian attack as unprovoked without investigating the matter any further.
The situation in Ukraine recalls memories of 2003 when the United States invaded Iraq. At the time, the US propaganda machine was in full swing, spreading mainly false information about the former Iraqi leader’s intentions to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Since then, several sources have debunked those lies, and US President George W. Bush has also admitted in his autobiography that he lied about the situation in Iraq.
The US propaganda machine is once again in full swing in Ukraine, spreading baseless stories about the war between Ukraine and Russia. The US has also created the illusion of how essential it is to defeat Russia – not only in Ukraine but also to destroy its economic ability to recover from its losses.
Proxies as a tool of power.
Finland’s position is comparable to Ukraine, not because of a direct military threat, but because Finland has become a proxy for the United States. The U.S. administration and the intelligence community spread threatening images, creating divisions among ordinary citizens.
Despite the U.S. and its Western allies spreading doomsday scenarios about the war in Ukraine spreading worldwide and causing destruction, they argue that defeating Russia in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine is the ultimate solution. The United States has not been entirely successful in this – even its politicians in Washington have begun to question the reasoning for supporting Ukraine and its never-ending war. The U.S. senators are prioritizing the security of their southern border before providing further support to Ukraine, which has been relying on aid for a prolonged period. This raises a question about the United States’ commitment to helping its allies during crises.
The negative attitude of the Finnish government towards Russia has recently caused a significant strain in their relationship. The U.S. presence is not going to fix the situation. Suggestions exist for a potential conflict between Finland and Russia, but no concrete evidence supports these claims. They are likely part of a broader propaganda campaign to create a sense of threat.
Intelligence gathering on the U.S. terms.
Finland’s and Russia’s neighboring relations and the historical material collected over the years are valuable data for the intelligence apparatus of the United States. The defense cooperation agreement also opens the possibility for mutual intelligence exchange. With the occupation of Finland, American spy organizations, such as the NSA and CIA, got permanent offices in Finland and were thus able to spread anti-East propaganda more effectively.
The people of Finland are not yet aware of the potential threat that comes not from the East but from the American intelligence community. The cooperation agreement between the Finnish and United States governments allows for spying on Finnish citizens and foreigners residing in Finland. Despite demands for compliance with laws from the police authorities and the Ministry of the Interior, there is no longer an obstacle to intelligence gathering in Finland.
The European Union is currently negotiating an agreement allowing the United States to access data stored in personal cloud services used by individuals within the EU. It should be noted that the U.S. already has similar agreements in place with Canada, Britain, and Australia.
In 2013, U.S. intelligence services requested Microsoft to share customer data, which Microsoft refused to do. The refusal was because Microsoft’s servers were in Ireland, and the U.S. court did not have jurisdiction over them. After five years, in 2018, the court finally ruled in favor of Microsoft. However, the United States has since passed a law that grants its intelligence agencies the power to access information stored in cloud services beyond their immediate jurisdiction, even outside the U.S. borders.
A new law states that if a cloud storage service belongs to a U.S.-registered company, a U.S. court decision and reasonable suspicion of criminal activity can be sufficient to access their data, even if the data center is outside the U.S. However, an agreement between the U.S. and its allies is required to justify this operating model.
Conclusion.
The future looks uncertain for Finns as the United States brings its military might to Finnish soil. Will Finland get the necessary protection and deterrent it desires, or is the U.S. presence only a long-term obligation?
