In the hand of Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, it has turned into a potent instrument to international diplomacy. He’s cultivated an all but unique personal rapport with U.S. President Donald Trump. Over the past several months, Stubb has worked like an appendage of Trump. Together, they have moved from low-level negotiations to high-level diplomacy to address the troublesome conflict in Ukraine and the shifting, multipolar world we face with Russia.
Stubb took his collaboration with the President to dangerous new levels following the August Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki. With this move, he became a central member of the European leaders’ advance party who made the trip to the White House for an initial debrief. This meeting highlighted the critical nature of their partnership, which has transformed dramatically in the wake of conflict and pandemic.
Close Collaboration with Trump
Stubb has already had several chances to play nice with Trump, such as a game of golf at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year. He expressed his gratitude for these interactions, stating, “I’ve had the possibility to work with President Trump quite closely over the past few months.” This very close working relationship gives Stubb a unique opportunity to help inform and educate the European perspective on key, urgent issues.
At a recent meeting in Helsinki, Stubb welcomed journalists from several news organizations, including ABC. He shared his perspective on the unfolding developments in Ukraine. Beyond that, he credited Trump for specifically turning the tide. “I think President Trump is working, if not around the clock, but at least every day with trying to end Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine,” he remarked.
Participating in active coalition video calls, Stubb has been an integral part of their progress. These calls unite parliamentarians from the like-minded countries of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Norway, and Iceland. He noted the commitment of these nations to the peacekeeping effort, stating, “A lot of these are countries who have strong peacekeeping traditions, so that’s why they are involved.” He understood the burdens on participants across many time zones. In particular, he sympathized with the Australians who participate in calls in the middle of the night. “I kind of feel sorry for [the Australians], because every time we have [coalition video calls], it’s in the middle of the night their time, but, heroically, they are there,” Stubb added.
Stubb’s Insights on Putin and China
As a close confidant of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Stubb has been an outspoken proponent of the existential threat that Stubb’s Putin represents. He stated that “Vladimir Putin is beginning to feel the heat” due to increasing international pressure and sanctions. Stubb noted that when Russia invaded Ukraine, its economy was relatively strong, but is now in a particularly dire state. “This time last year … the [Russian] economy was doing fairly well, and it’s not now,” he pointed out.
Stubb further emphasized the importance of China’s involvement in mediating an end to the war. He expressed a sense of urgency in his appeal to Chinese President Xi Jinping: “I plead to China … it would take one phone call from President Xi Jinping to President Putin to end this war.” While recognizing that finding one simple solution to the standoff is difficult, he stressed that downplaying the role China plays would be a mistake. “It is, of course, not as simple as that, but I don’t think we should underestimate the role of China in forcing Russia to end this conflict,” he stated.
International Cooperation for Peace
Under Stubb’s leadership, Finland finds itself with a very important 1,340-kilometre long land border with Russia. This reality pushes Finland to be deeply involved in shaping the discourse around security and peacekeeping initiatives in Eastern Europe. He’s been outstanding in bringing together the widest support of nations possible to push back against Russia’s aggression in this crisis. “I think it’s key. It just shows that this is not only a European endeavour, or only a transatlantic endeavour,” Stubb explained.
The coalition’s formation reflects a unified stance against Russian aggression and showcases the diverse experiences of member countries in peacekeeping missions since 1947. Stubbs pointed to countries with deep peacekeeping traditions. Together, they are providing valuable insights and resources to the multinational effort to stabilize Ukraine.
