Finland sends ten border guards to patrol Latvia-Belarus border

Ten Finnish border guards have been deployed to assist Latvia in monitoring its border with Belarus, state broadcaster Yle reported Tuesday.

The move follows a request from Latvian authorities, who cited a rising number of unauthorized crossings from Belarus as summer approaches. Finland initially sent a small contingent two weeks ago, now expanded to ten personnel, who will remain until June 14.

Border guards from southeastern Finland are included in the deployment. Finland provided similar support last autumn when pressure on the Latvia-Belarus border intensified.

Finland’s Southeast Finland Border Guard District deputy commander, Lieutenant Colonel Antti Virta, confirmed no Finnish border guards are currently assigned to comparable missions in other countries under bilateral agreements. He added that Finland has not requested such assistance itself but stands ready to do so if border conditions deteriorate.