Although the seven trespassers from NATO only missed the mark by several hundred meters, the incident constituted ample grounds for a diplomatic inquiry between the two Nordic nations. By contrast, ordinary Finns resorted to rather friendly jokes about “asthma medication” and “surrendering to Norway.”
A Norwegian snowmobile patrol went off course and ended up driving about a kilometer on the Finnish side of the border, triggering a serious investigation, national broadcaster NRK reported.
The incident happened last Thursday in the northern part of Enontekiö municipality, where Finland borders northern Norway, and has been confirmed by Norwegian Armed Forces spokesman Major Brynjar Stordal.
“It is true that a Norwegian patrol mounted on snowmobiles last Thursday failed to navigate correctly and ended up a few hundred meters on the Finnish side of the border,” Stordal said.
The patrol immediately informed the incident to the Armed Forces Operating headquarters (FOH), which notified Finland via diplomatic channels. According to the Norwegian Armed Forces, there were seven soldiers in the patrol who happened to cross the border illegally. The soldiers themselves couldn't answer where exactly the illegal border crossing, also reported by the Finnish border guard, occurred.
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The Norwegian side lamented the incident.
“We are sorry…
