Russia is leveraging migration to exert pressure on NATO amidst escalating terrorism threats due to the Israel-Hamas conflict

Russia⁣ Orchestrates Influx of Immigrants‍ into Finland, Forcing Closure​ of Eastern Border

“Russia is‍ enabling the instrumentalization of​ people and guiding them to the Finnish border in harsh winter conditions,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo⁢ said Tuesday. “Finland is determined to put an end to this phenomenon.”

More than 800 people have arrived at Finnish border crossings over the ‌last ‌month, with the asylum-seekers predominantly from the Middle ‍East and Africa, according to Voice ⁤of America. Western officials characterized⁣ the new surge as yet another attempt by Russia to find‌ unconventional ways to threaten NATO.

“We have seen them using energy, we have seen them using cyberattacks, we ⁢have seen them using different kinds⁢ of clandestine operations to try to undermine ‍our democracies,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said⁣ on Tuesday at a meeting of ​NATO’s top diplomats in Brussels. “The ‍fact that⁤ Russia is now using migration as a tool⁤ is yet another example of ⁣the attempt to put pressure on neighbors, NATO allies, and they ‌will not succeed because we ​stand together.”

As Finnish authorities finalized their plan to close the last border crossing with Russia, Moscow issued a new rebuke of the Nordic state’s decision to​ join the trans-Atlantic alliance.

“Evidently, ⁣the entire [NATO] alliance has increased ⁣the zone of contact with its main ⁣enemy, as Russia is viewed ⁤by the alliance,‍ by 1,300 kilometers,” ⁢Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said at a foreign affairs discussion in Moscow, referring to the 830 mile-long border the two countries share. “And they will demand that⁤ Finland do ‌what other allies are doing, i.e., take all necessary measures and deploy foreign forces on its territory. We know that Finland has signed relevant bilateral ‌agreements.”

Finland and Sweden, which both maintained ⁢neutrality ‍throughout ⁤the Cold War after the Finns fought Soviet invaders to a standstill in 1939,⁣ applied to join NATO last year in the months following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s initiation of a full-scale campaign to‌ overthrow ⁤the Ukrainian government. Russian Foreign ​Minister Sergey ‌Lavrov’s ⁣department warned ⁢that Moscow would “take military-technical and other retaliatory measures” when Finland’s membership of the alliance was finalized in April.

“We work closely with our Finnish partners‍ and they report a significant increase in third-nation citizens that ‍are coming via ‌Russia to their border, clearly ⁣orchestrated by Russia in order ​to create hybrid ‌pressure on Finland.” ‌Norwegian Foreign ⁢Minister Espen⁣ Barth Eide⁤ told CNBC on‍ the sidelines of ​the NATO meeting in Brussels. “This is an example that‍ when you are in war, you have a kinetic war ‍on the battlefield, occasional attacks on infrastructure, but ‍also these other measures which we tend to call‌ ‘hybrid.’”

Stoltenberg, for his ​part, emphasized that the border trouble has⁤ not developed into the sort of security issue that would ⁤require a response‌ from the alliance.

“There has been no request for a NATO ​increased presence,” he said before noting that the European Union already is ⁣coordinating with Finland. “Border control is something that allies do themselves also sometimes with support⁣ from EU agencies,‌ and I’m absolutely confident that Finland is‍ capable of dealing with this‌ themselves and therefore I trust they’re absolutely made the right decision when it comes to controlling their borders.”

Against the​ backdrop of a war ‍between Israel and Hamas, the arriving immigrants stoke antecedent Western anxiety about potential terrorist threats, according to another NATO member state official.

“The internal security services are worried about the possibility of the​ wave of terrorism, and‌ then suddenly you ​will have a rising wave⁤ of Middle East so-called ‘refugees’ which ‌are not reaching naturally‌ to your northern‍ border‍ crossing points,” a senior European official told the Washington Examiner. “It’s absolutely state-organized.”

This official downplayed the idea of ​Russia ferrying any known terrorists to the ⁤Finnish border on account‌ of logistical difficulties. “They can use whatever⁤ tools,”⁣ the official added, “but they are not almighty. ‍So, their organizing capabilities have limits as well, actually. So, it’s not so ‍easy.”

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen acknowledged a more general misgiving about the potential for “aftershocks” from the crisis ⁤in the Middle East.

“We are prepared and we are preparing for possible aftershocks,” she said in a separate broadcast interview in Brussels. “There has to be a lasting negotiated two-state solution ‌for the ⁣region because no outflux of migrants will ever solve the‌ issue.”

Valtonen expressed “hope that Russia gets back to normal where they respect our treaties,” but Lavrov’s subordinates so far have denied responsibility for the issue. In the meantime, Finnish authorities have decided to close ​the land​ border for at least two weeks.

“In the current situation, it is necessary to close the entire eastern⁣ border,” Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said. “We have taken this decision to protect Finland’s national security against this Russian hybrid operation.”

Ble of dealing with this situation.”

What ⁢strategies can the PAA implement to strengthen ‍its ability to ‌address challenging circumstances?

There are several⁢ strategies that the PAA‌ (Public Affairs Agency) can implement to strengthen its ability to address challenging circumstances:

1. Enhance communication channels: Improve internal‌ and external ‌communication channels to ensure that information is shared ⁤effectively and efficiently. This can include regular meetings,‍ newsletters, and ‌the use of technology platforms for communication.

2. Increase transparency: Foster a culture of transparency within the PAA by providing regular‌ updates on progress, decisions, and ​challenges. This helps build trust and credibility with stakeholders.

3. Develop crisis management plans: Create comprehensive crisis management plans that outline steps to be taken in the event of challenging circumstances. ⁤This‍ includes identifying potential risks, defining⁢ roles and responsibilities, and establishing communication protocols.

4. Build strong relationships with stakeholders: Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, such as government agencies, media outlets, and community organizations. This can be done through regular engagement,‌ collaboration on relevant projects, and addressing concerns or ⁢feedback in‍ a​ timely manner.

5. Implement continuous​ learning and development programs: Foster a culture of continuous‍ learning and development within the PAA. This can include training⁤ programs, workshops, and external partnerships to enhance skills and knowledge in dealing with challenging circumstances.

6. Monitor and evaluate performance: Regularly monitor and evaluate the ⁤performance of the PAA in addressing challenging circumstances. This can be done ​through performance metrics, feedback mechanisms, and conducting post-incident evaluations.

7. Foster ⁣a resilient and adaptable organizational culture: Cultivate a culture of resilience and adaptability within the PAA by ‍encouraging employees to be flexible and innovative when facing challenges. This includes promoting collaboration, encouraging creative problem-solving, and providing support during difficult times.

By implementing these strategies, the PAA​ can strengthen‍ its ability to address challenging circumstances and effectively navigate through them.

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