Harry Jansson
Deputy Head The Government of Åland
"You can understand the Ålanders in a way. For centuries they have been exposed to the crossfire of big politics and the gusts of war. By strictly observing existing agreements, they try to keep their homeland free from war and its military accessories."
These words, written by the military researcher Bertil Stjernfelt more than 30 years ago, can still in the autumn of 2023 very well sum up the attitude of the Ålanders regarding what has become part of their national identity: the status of the Åland Islands as both demilitarized and neutralized territory closely linked to an autonomy based on international law.
Altogether, Åland's status is unique in the world with its combination of political autonomy for the population and a geographically defined zone free of military elements in peacetime.
Considering the tumultuous era we are living through, as a result of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, it is worth pointing out that Åland has always taken every opportunity to further consolidate its status under international law. This was for example done in connection with the EU accession in 1995, when a special protocol confirming Åland’s special status under international law was added to the accession treaty of Finland, Sweden and Austria. The confirmation of the special status of Åland has remained unchanged also as the EU treaties have been updated.
Over the years, the Ålanders have shown that they are prepared to defend their special status, regardless of external pressures and hostile actions. In 1938, over 4 000 Ålanders (a significant part of the then adult population of the islands) gathered in a protest against the Finnish and Swedish plans to fortify Åland as part of their response to the growing threat of war. The Ålanders thus opposed any deviation from the 1921 Åland Convention on the non-fortification of the islands, even though Sweden, as both a signatory and guarantor power, was suddenly on the other side of the table.
Ever since the League of Nations' decision on the Åland issue in Geneva in 1921, the special status of Åland combined with the geopolitical importance of the archipelago has been reflected in the relations between Finland and Sweden. These relations have developed in a dramatic way if we consider that in 1917 to 1921, the countries were extremely close to war because of the Åland dispute, whereas they today are characterized by consensus and cooperation, not least in terms of military cooperation.
Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine has undoubtedly had the greatest negative impact on the world since the horrors and suffering of the Second World War. Finland and Sweden's sensationally rapid change of course in security policy in 2022, from neutrality to NATO membership as the only right thing to do, also put Åland in the spotlight once again on the international arena.
From the Åland side, we have always been firmly convinced that if NATO membership becomes relevant for Finland, Åland's internationally recognized status will be fully taken into account by a peace seeking alliance whose very existence is based on democracy and respect for international law. This clear starting point has also been reflected in the policy document on the demilitarization and neutralization of Åland adopted by the Åland Government in 2015: the conventions on Åland's status must be respected in any negotiations on Finnish NATO membership.
The above-mentioned Ålandic wish was fully realized during the NATO negotiations in 2022, as Finland's confirmation that all the international agreements on Åland's special status would continue to be fully respected did not raise any objections from the alliance's 30 Member States. This positive part of the NATO process was also reinforced both by the fact that the Åland Government was represented during the crucial meetings in Brussels and by the fact that the Finnish Government regularly kept the Åland Government informed about every step taken.
Despite the positive events mentioned above, the agreements relating to the demilitarisation and neutralisation of Åland are currently the subject of an extensive investigation by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The reason for this is that under the peace agreements of 1940 and 1947, Russia has the right to maintain a consulate in Åland with the explicit task of monitoring compliance with the demilitarization of the islands. At a time when states are declaring each other's diplomats persona non grata, the existence of the Russian consulate in Åland has been questioned. Why allow such a diplomatic mission on NATO territory?
For us on Åland, it remains clear that both Finland and the international community has a responsibility to stick to a rule based order where international treaties are fully respected by all parties. Moreover, it would be unwise for a small country like Finland to be the one to withdraw from peace agreements at a time when we all depend on greater respect for democracy and freedom. There is also a time after Ukraine has won this war, and then we will still need arenas for dialogue that lead our development in the right direction. If we see a possibility that Åland's status can serve as an inspiration in several ways in the now war-torn areas, it would be wrong in this situation to deprive the Åland solution of any of its important components.