Finland Border Patrol in Latvia has officially begun operations after Latvian authorities requested help to manage rising migration pressure along the Latvian-Belarusian border. The Finnish Border Guard confirmed that a team of experienced officers is stationed in Latvia until 22 September, focusing on surveillance and frontline operations just as they would at Finland’s own borders.
According to the Finnish Border Guard, illegal migration pressures have grown at the Latvian-Belarusian border in 2025. Latvia has reported an increase in unauthorized border crossings and has already strengthened its surveillance measures since March. Border guards from Estonia and Lithuania have also been sent to support Latvian operations.
Several European countries believe these migration flows are politically motivated. Belarus has been accused of assisting the movement of migrants toward EU borders. Finland faced similar challenges in 2023 when it closed its eastern border with Russia after reporting state-backed efforts to channel migrants from Asia and Africa toward its territory.
The Finnish deployment in Latvia is part of wider European cooperation under Frontex, the EU border agency. Finnish officers are currently taking part in Frontex operations across 20 European countries. This latest mission in Latvia also falls under bilateral agreements between Finland and its regional partners.
Topi Rasanen, a border security specialist at the Finnish Border Guard Headquarters, explained that these missions are valuable for Finland’s own security readiness.
“Providing and receiving border security support improves our ability to respond to changing and unpredictable border situations,” Rasanen said. “By supporting Schengen borders, we also strengthen Finland’s border security directly.”
The Finnish officers sent to Latvia are applying the same surveillance methods and operational practices used on Finland’s external borders. According to the Finnish Border Guard, these international assignments not only support European partners but also enhance the experience and readiness of Finnish personnel.
Over the years, Finnish border guards have earned recognition across Europe for their professional standards. Frontex has also stationed international officers in Finland to assist with border duties on Finnish soil, highlighting the mutual cooperation at work.
Although no details have been released on the number of Finnish personnel deployed to Latvia, the mission reflects a broader strategy among northern European countries. Together, they aim to coordinate their responses to border security challenges linked to both Belarus and Russia.
