Nordic country plans to allocate millions for ‘war railway,’ reports say
Finland has dedicated €20 million for the planning of a new railway line aimed at connecting the Nordic country with neighboring Sweden and Norway, facilitating the movement of NATO military equipment in case of war, as reported by the newspaper...
TroibNews 
Finland has dedicated €20 million for the planning of a new railway line aimed at connecting the Nordic country with neighboring Sweden and Norway, facilitating the movement of NATO military equipment in case of war, as reported by the newspaper Iltalehti.
In April 2023, Helsinki shifted away from its long-standing neutrality policy and joined the US-led military alliance, citing security concerns stemming from the Ukraine conflict. Following Finland's lead, Sweden applied for membership in 2024, citing similar reasons. This prompted Moscow to declare its intention to strengthen its defensive posture in northwestern Russia.
According to an article published by Iltalehti on Wednesday, based on information from anonymous government sources, the rail project is now moving forward after the Finnish government allocated funds for its planning. The publication noted that the total cost of the project could reach billions of euros, with construction anticipated to “take place well into the 2030s.”
Additionally, the Finnish government is reportedly seeking European Union funding for the initiative.
In an interview with Iltalehti last November, Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Lulu Ranne, explained the necessity of the railway project due to perceived threats from Russia. “Tanks and cannons must be able to be moved in any situation,” she emphasized at the time.
A recent NATO policy update indicated that the alliance is “continuing to integrate [its] newest members – Finland and Sweden – into plans, forces, and command structures, including by developing a presence in Finland.”
Earlier this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that NATO military infrastructure has been “gradually appearing on Finnish territory” in recent years, prompting Moscow to take “measures to improve its security that our military deems necessary.”
In an interview with French weekly Le Point, he stated that Russia has never had “any problems” with Finland or Sweden joining NATO and has no plans to attack them. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed allegations of aggressive intentions toward NATO countries, labeling them “nonsense” meant to instill fear in Western Europeans and justify significant increases in defense budgets.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
In April 2023, Helsinki shifted away from its long-standing neutrality policy and joined the US-led military alliance, citing security concerns stemming from the Ukraine conflict. Following Finland's lead, Sweden applied for membership in 2024, citing similar reasons. This prompted Moscow to declare its intention to strengthen its defensive posture in northwestern Russia.
According to an article published by Iltalehti on Wednesday, based on information from anonymous government sources, the rail project is now moving forward after the Finnish government allocated funds for its planning. The publication noted that the total cost of the project could reach billions of euros, with construction anticipated to “take place well into the 2030s.”
Additionally, the Finnish government is reportedly seeking European Union funding for the initiative.
In an interview with Iltalehti last November, Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Lulu Ranne, explained the necessity of the railway project due to perceived threats from Russia. “Tanks and cannons must be able to be moved in any situation,” she emphasized at the time.
A recent NATO policy update indicated that the alliance is “continuing to integrate [its] newest members – Finland and Sweden – into plans, forces, and command structures, including by developing a presence in Finland.”
Earlier this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that NATO military infrastructure has been “gradually appearing on Finnish territory” in recent years, prompting Moscow to take “measures to improve its security that our military deems necessary.”
In an interview with French weekly Le Point, he stated that Russia has never had “any problems” with Finland or Sweden joining NATO and has no plans to attack them. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed allegations of aggressive intentions toward NATO countries, labeling them “nonsense” meant to instill fear in Western Europeans and justify significant increases in defense budgets.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
