Defense Jussi Niinistö. File Photo – Lehtikuva. Military threat or the risk of “men in green” in the Åland Islands is not greater than elsewhere in the country, said the chair of Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (Swedish

People’s Party of Finland), also the former defence minister, Carl Haglund.

The men in green refer to unidentified troops of the Russian army.

The Åland Islands defence plan was raised following current Defence Minister Jussi Niinistö’s remarks that the country was making preparations for a situation in which the men in green could appear in the Åland Islands.

Haglund said it was unusual to discuss defence plans of such kind in public.

“Such an output must have some kind of political reason,” Haglund said.

Still, Haglund believes Niinistö’s settlement was justified.

Haglund added that there is no need to get nervous following the remarks.

“The Åland Islands are not faced by any higher risk of experiencing threat than the rest of Finland. There is no reason to make a big deal out of this,” Haglund said.

Camilla Gunell, the premier of the Government of Åland, expressed surprise at Niinistö’s remarks and considers them exaggerated.

“The political situation in the Black Sea and the Crimea is quite different to that in the Baltic Sea,” Gunell said.

According to Gunell, demilitarisation of the Åland remains effective and should be kept as such.