100 Years Later, Finland Still Distancing Itself From Russia

HELSINKI – A century after gaining independence from its powerful neighbor Russia, Finland continues to consolidate its ties with the West, as tensions flare between Moscow and the West.

Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and an uptick in military activity in the Baltic region have tested Finnish-Russian relations, painstakingly maintained over the years with scrupulous diplomatic efforts.

Like its neighbors Sweden, Denmark, Poland and the Baltic states, Finland has modernized its military in recent years and has stepped up initiatives tying itself closer to NATO — but has stopped short of joining the alliance.