Oh but oil prices are the single most important factor to US policy, so any country that can influence them is a threat obviously? Just as much as possible Ukrainian NATO border is, but Finish NATO border is not, you know, it's all logical!

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

You realize Finland is farther North than Ukraine? There's lots of ice most of the year. With hilly terrain. And it's very forested. There's not a lot of actual crossing points in that border, in an invasion it would require building lots of infrastructure that just doesn't exist. Moving troops and tanks across the border would be slow and difficult. I think Russia would change its tune on Finland if they suddenly started building lots of infrastructure to enable border crossing, but for now it's not really a threat.

[–] harcesz@szmer.info 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Ever heard of north passage opening? Basically main economic oportunity for Russia other then its raw materials?

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yes, that would change geopolitics dramatically. That also probably won't happen for a few decades until the ice caps melt a lot more, though.

[–] harcesz@szmer.info 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

https://gcaptain.com/first-panamax-containership-sprints-across-arctic-reaching-china-in-just-three-weeks/

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

For now shipping services between Europe and Asia via the North remain limited to a 3-4 months summer window, but as sea ice retreats earlier in summer and returns later in winter more operators will surely look to the Arctic for new opportunities.

Like I said. In a few decades the Northern passage will just be an open sea route most of the year.