Paul Goble
The Saimaa Canal, which links the internal waterways of Finland to the Gulf of Finland via 34 kilometers (21 miles) of Russian territory, is rapidly becoming a flashpoint in the deteriorating relationship between Moscow and Helsinki. More generally, it is becoming a point of tension between the Russian Federation and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which Finland joined in 2023.
The situation has even become a point of disagreement between Russia and China. The canal, built in 1856 and modernized several times since, has long been an important trade route not only for Russia and Finland but also as a transit for others. The traffic volume has declined to a fraction of what it was a decade ago, primarily due to sanctions and countersanctions arising from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attacks on Ukraine and fears by both parties that the other will use the waterway to subvert their national security. Helsinki is worried Moscow will use the canal to undermine Finland’s independence by sending in refugees or covert forces (Window on Eurasia, April 19). Moscow is convinced NATO is planning to use the waterway to invade Russia if Putin’s oft-threatened war between Russia and the West breaks out in earnest (Rzd-partner.ru, September 23; Stoletie, September 27).
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