EU Allocates $180 Million to Bolster Borders with Russia and Belarus

Funding will enhance security measures in six nations as tensions escalate and migration concerns grow.

The European Union announced €170 million ($180 million) in funding for Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Norway to strengthen border security with Russia and Belarus.
The funding will be used to upgrade surveillance systems, improve telecommunications, deploy mobile detection units, and counter drone intrusions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of protecting the bloc's borders from threats linked to Russia and Belarus, including alleged hybrid warfare tactics involving migration.
Poland and Finland have accused Russia and Belarus of encouraging illegal migration as a retaliatory measure, which both Moscow and Minsk deny.
Border fortifications in the region include anti-tank ditches, bunkers, advanced surveillance systems, and anti-drone measures, with some projects expected to be completed by 2028.