Finnish Border Guards Assist Latvia Against Belarus Migrant Pressure

Finland has deployed a team of border patrol officers to Latvia to assist with increased pressure from irregular migration at the Latvia-Belarus border, following a formal request from Latvian authorities. This support, which will continue until September 22, involves border control patrols performing similar duties in Latvia as they do in Finland, as part of a cooperation agreement between the Finnish and Latvian Border Guards. The migration pressure has notably increased in 2025, prompting Latvia to enhance its border surveillance since March, with additional support from Estonian and Lithuanian border authorities. Finnish border guards have played a role in maintaining border security across 20 European countries this year and emphasize that supporting border security in other Schengen countries directly strengthens Finland's own security. Finland also benefits from support via the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex, which helps both Finland and other European states with border management. This coordinated regional effort reflects the growing challenges posed by migration flows linked to Belarus and broader geopolitical tensions in the region.