Recently, Russia's Vladimir Putin announced the establishment of the Leningrad Military District, and the move against Finland has become an international focus. Putin made it clear that the Russian side decided to increase its military power in response to Finland's accession to NATO. For Finland, this is undoubtedly a huge military threat, which has forced it to reassess its actions and take the initiative to make overtures to Russia. Behind this move, it not only released warning signals, but also highlighted the simplicity and rudeness of Russia's diplomatic strategy, which crushed the domineering thinking of Western power thinking with one punch.
1. Russia strongly warns Finland that it is ready to strike back at any time
Putin's act of establishing the new military district shows that Russia has sent an extremely strong warning signal to Finland. This means that Russia is ready to respond to possible contingencies on the Russian-Finnish border, especially on the military front. Russia's attitude towards Finland shows that they no longer tolerate frequent Finnish provocations. As soon as Finland continues to provoke, the Russian side can mobilize the forces of the Leningrad Military District at any time to counterattack and make Finland pay the price.
This is not only a warning to Finland that it must be cautious, but also a demonstration of Russia's determination and strength to the global community. The Russian army is a powerful force known throughout the world, and their military strength should not be underestimated. In the event of continued provocations by Finland, Russia will immediately take military action to completely shatter Finland's illusion of continued dependence on NATO.
(2) Russia sends a strategic signal to the West
Finland is a member of NATO, and Russia's move is clearly a strategic response to the West. Russia's public and clear military deterrence and threats against Finland are aimed at telling the Finnish top leadership and the outside world that Russia is now not afraid of NATO and the United States and the West. The Ukraine crisis has revealed NATO's true war power, and Russia believes that NATO is not enough to be an adversary that threatens Russia's security.
Finland's move has also forced other NATO members to rethink and reassess the military power of the West and the United States. For Finland, the confidence that it once considered itself a NATO "talisman" has been torn to pieces. Against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the strength of the West has proven to be a veil of weakness, and NATO members such as Finland must face up to this harsh reality.
(3) Attempts to improve Russian-Finnish relations
Despite Finland's frequent provocations against Russia, it is clear that Russia's actions are aimed at the **, not the people. In the past, relations between Russia and Finland have been friendly and peaceful. However, in recent years, Finland's accession to NATO and repeated provocations against Russia have changed the pattern of getting along with the two sides. Russia established the Leningrad Military District to warn Finland about its mistakes.
Finland's actions, a member of NATO, have not only damaged friendly relations between the two countries, but also created a sense of insecurity for itself. Finland has begun to recognize the reality, trying to alleviate the crisis by improving Russian-Finnish relations, and calling on the West not to overestimate Russia's military power. This action also exposed Finland's vacillation towards the Western alliance and its attempt to regain the balance of friendship with Russia.
The Minister of Defense of Finland recently publicly stated that in the conflict in Ukraine, Russia's military power is overestimated, as is the military power of the West and Ukraine. This kind of overt praise of Russia and belittle the military power of the West feels a little strange. Finland's move, on the one hand, is due to the fact that reality has to admit that Russia's military superiority in the conflict in Ukraine cannot be ignored. On the other hand, Finland's move is also an attempt to ease tensions between Russia and NATO by making overtures.
The conflict in Ukraine has proven Russia's military strength, which is capable of gaining superiority and victory even in the face of forces united by the West and NATO. The "sense of security" of NATO members such as Finland has been significantly reduced. Against this background, Finland hopes to send a signal to Russia that it is trying to improve relations by showing goodwill, hoping that Russia will lay down the "sword of Damocles" of the new Leningrad Military District. However, Finland still has to be aware that Russia's actions to build up military forces on the border between the two countries will put enormous pressure on the Finnish economy.
From a strategic point of view, NATO will also increase its military deployment in Finland in the future, making Finland the front-line battlefield of struggle and confrontation against Russia. It also means that Finland has the potential to become the next "Ukraine". Relations between Russia and Finland would have been friendly, but Finland chose to make trouble, joining NATO and frequently provoking Russia. Russia's creation of the Leningrad Military District is a clear response to Finland, which Finland brought on itself, and no one else can be blamed. It would be wise for Finland to change its attitude towards Russia, hoping to ease tensions and restore the previously friendly relations between the two countries.