Media Coverage of Finland Abroad

In recent news, Finland has introduced a new deportation law allowing the country to refuse asylum seekers at its border with Russia. The move, backed by Finland’s right-wing government and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, is a response to what Finland perceives as Russia’s manipulation of migrant flows from the Middle East and Africa.

The law empowers border guards to block asylum seekers during national emergencies, suspending their right to appeal. This measure has drawn criticism from human rights groups and international bodies, who argue that it violates Finland’s constitution, international commitments, and EU law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement.

While European leaders, including those from the Baltic countries, support the law as a means of managing migration pressures, concerns remain about its impact on human rights and the rule of law in Finland. The European Commission plans to review the law to ensure alignment with EU standards while respecting member states’ rights to secure their borders.

In another development, the U.S. Pentagon’s Arctic strategy, bolstered by Finland and Sweden joining NATO, aims to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the region. The deployment of two U.S. B-52 bombers over northern Finland signifies a show of strength and cooperation within the alliance, sending a clear message to Russia about NATO’s capabilities.

On a different note, the Thai government’s crackdown on fake job offers for berry picking in Finland highlights the issue of human trafficking and illegal labor practices. The Thai authorities have suspended the export of workers for berry picking and are working with Finland to enhance regulations for protecting workers’ rights and preventing exploitation.