Belated news of two separate incidents of Russian interference in the work of the Finnish research vessel Aranda in international waters broke this weekend, prompting the Minister of Defence Carl Haglund and the Prime Minister Alexander Stubb to call for a move by officials to demand Russia answer for its actions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has still not decided if a Russian report is necessary.
“Quite unusual”
“The incidents were quite unusual,” says Mikko Kinnunen, the Ministry’s unit manager for security policy and crisis management, in his Monday morning radio interview. He said the Ministry is currently investigating the report submitted by the Finnish Environmental Institute (SYKE) on the incidents.
Kinnunen says the report of the August 2 incident, in which the Russian warship urged the Aranda to change course on two occasions, seemed very dramatic.
“At first the captain decided not to report the incident,” he said.
The second incident on September 2, when the Russian helicopter from the ship flew near the Aranda, was even more exceptional, said Kinnunen. He estimates that the increase in Russia’s defence budget may be seen in an increase in the number of exercises.
“We don’t follow this kind of thing at the ministry daily. Structurally, Russia has built up its defence forces' resources, which could translate into an increase in active operations on the Baltic Sea,” he says.
Was there a danger?
Kinnunen says the Ministry is still undecided about whether to contact Russia with regard to the incidents. He explains that it is first necessary to assess whether there was an element of danger involved.
“It is important to explore the SYKE report carefully and discuss the matter with maritime experts like Trafi, the Transport Safety Agency. Then we will decide whether or not to make contact with Russia,” says Kinnunen. If a danger is established, the Ministry will take the necessary diplomatic steps.