Finland blocks six foreign real estate deals over security risks

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen has rejected six real estate transactions involving citizens from outside the European Union and the European Economic Area, citing national security concerns. The decisions follow a law implemented last summer designed to scrutinize foreign acquisitions, particularly those involving Russian and Belarusian nationals.

One specific transaction was blocked due to the property's location in Kotka, approximately 130 kilometers east of Helsinki. The site is near the Mussalo terminal within the Hamina-Kotka port, which handles nearly half of Finland's container traffic and serves as a critical node for the country's maritime trade. Authorities expressed concern that under Russian law, a potential owner could be compelled to use the property in a manner that threatens Finnish security or supply chains.

Regarding the other five rejected applications, the Ministry of Defense noted that the applicants failed to provide the necessary additional information required for a full security assessment.