How This Tiny Archipelago Became a NATO-Russia Flashpoint

The picturesque Aland Islands have long been at peace thanks to a patchwork of self-determination and international agreement, in part administered by nations who now happen to be bitter enemies. As pressure mounts to militarize this crucial hub of trade and travel, locals point to its unusual status quo as an example for the rest of the world.

0:00 An Uneasy Peace
1:09 Why The Aland Islands Matter
2:03 A History of Demilitarization
3:48 The Finnish Coast Guard
5:14 Hybrid Warfare
5:51 Protesting Russia

#NATO #Russia #News
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[Zereniti]

The "tiny archipelago" is actually the biggest archipelago in the world if you count the number of islands.

[WednesdayFin]

Just to clarify, Åland is not caught between NATO and Russia, it is in NATO.

[blinder]

The population is Swedish-speaking, Not Swedish.

The people living in Åland are Ålanders, Finnish citizens.

[TeijaLehto]

The inhabitants on the Åland island are not Swedish, they are Finnish. But they are Swedish speaking Finns. You should understand the difference between nationality and language.

[Pierluigi_Di_Lorenzo]

I would not call it 'tiny', the area of the archipelago is roughly 27 times the size of Manhattan.

[commonsense]

us in the Nordic. We will stick together no matter what!

Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway we will protect those Islands. No matter what!

[Qipt]

Åland has a Swedish-speaking population, as many coastal areas in Finland do. It’s an editorial blunder to call all ”Finlandssvenskar” (which have many dialects and exist in different regions) as Swedish. For someone non-local to understand, perhaps an equivalent would be to call a Quebecois person just French without any association to Canada or Quebec.

[MrPetteri]

There is one minor, but important part of history missing from this otherwise excellent report. In the spring of 1941 - during so-called ”intermittent peace” (the time between Winter War and Continuation War) Finland was worried that Soviet Union might try to occupy demilitarized Aland Islands. It should be noted that as part of the Winter War peace treaty Finland had been forced to lease Hanko Peninsula to Soviet Union, so some Russian forces were stationed right next to Finnish Archipelago at the time. Secret naval operation plans were drawn to prevent Russian invasion. It was called Operatiion Sailing Race (Kilpapurjehdus in Finnish). At 0430 hours in the early morning of the 22nd of June small Finnish naval task force protected by Finnish navy’s two largest warships Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen left the mainland for Aland. Only 2 hours later the warships that were stationed outside the island of Sottunga were attacked by Soviet air force, although Soviet Union and Finland were not at war at the time. Nevertheless in 24 hours Finland managed to secure the islands and Soviet Union never tried ot occupy them during Continuation War.

[jlaa]

It is naive to stick to the international agreements (that were forced upon us anyways by USSR, meaning the Åland demilitarization) when the counterpart has zero respect towards those agreements. The wise thing now is to prepare in advance while there still is time and place permanent military installations and bases to protect the islands. The agreements won't protect Aland, only military power will. For the russians, the agreements are just paper that won't stop them from attacking if they so choose to do.

[hurri]

They are not Swedish anymore than a Canadian is French because hes native tongue is French. We have two official languages in Finland much because Finland was a part of Sweden for more than 600 years. You get along in Finnish fine on the Aland islands too.

[triplegodz]

Russia has zero claim to these islands

[erikoksanen]

The population of the Åland Islands isn’t mostly Swedish, it is mostly Swedish-speaking. The population itself is Finnish.

[SpazzyMcGee]

I respect that retired journalist protesting every day.

[ollivainikainen]

Åland is a part of Finland, so it's up to Finland if it will continue being demilitarized.
The deal of demiliritazion was made with Soviet Union, and as Soviet Union no longer exists, that deal is off.

[patriklind]

Listen, militarily Sweden would never accept Russia on Åland. And this has been a fact for more than 60 years. Totally regardless of Nato, neutrality and such. For more than 60 years I assure you, Sweden has been ready and trained to defend Åland in a day or less if Russia would try to go to Åland. Both Swedens navy and airforce has been tailored to handle such a situation. I have personally seen the plans and played the war games.

[ConnMtenor]

Finnish territory = NATO territory. Finland is entirely within its rights to build a military base there. If Russia demilitarises Kaliningrad, then there can be a conversation.

[samkhani]

Russia can’t even control snake island near its occupied crimea, let alone this archipelago in middle of nato inland sea of Baltic 😅

[ticnatz]

Not sure I understand why Russia has any say. A treaty signed almost 170 years ago? Give me a

[Format]

I am proud of those Marienhamn people who have the strength to raise their voice daily by the Russian consulate. Jätte stolt över er, ❤ från Centrala Finland!

[AMERICANPATRIOT]

Finland has every right to take back its islands, its territories stolen by Russia in the Winter War and other Russian invasions, and otherwise treat Russia with the same respect that Russia has treated others with over the centuries.