Santa's Hometown in Finland Now Hosts NATO Troops Amid Rising Russian Tensions

Dec 11, 2025 03:48 pm CST

Rovaniemi, Finland's famous "Santa Claus hometown," now balances tourism with a growing NATO military presence as security concerns rise along the Russian border. Tourists are surprised to find military drills alongside reindeer safaris, with even the underground Santa Park serving as a potential bomb shelter, highlighting Finland's new geopolitical reality as a NATO member state close to Russia.