Finland foreign policy approach has entered a new phase, according to President Alexander Stubb, who says Finland and the United States no longer share the same operational strategy on the world stage. Speaking at the close of the Kultaranta Talks in Naantali, Stubb said that although the two nations still hold similar core values, their tools and tactics to promote those values now differ.
Stubb highlighted this shift by pointing to diverging views on international bodies such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, and the International Criminal Court.
“Our values are still the same, but the instruments we use to advance them are not,” he said.
Finland remains committed to international cooperation, placing emphasis on diplomacy and the rule of law. As a small nation, Finland prefers to influence global affairs through partnerships, norms, and institutions rather than unilateral power.
“Value-based realism is our tool in foreign and security policy,” he added. “We defend our values through international institutions, rules and norms, but we also acknowledge that global challenges cannot only be addressed with those who share our views.”
Stubb said Finland does what it can to influence U.S. decisions when possible, without taking aggressive stances. One example he gave was a short text exchange he had earlier that day with Donald Trump concerning the crisis in the Middle East. Trump did not share any specific plans, and Stubb said he could only assume the United States would offer support to Israel in some form.
He also confirmed discussions with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and a separate conversation with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who had also spoken with Trump.
When asked about Palestine, Stubb reaffirmed Finland’s support for a two-state solution. He made clear that recognizing Palestine was not a question of principle but of timing.
“It is a question of timing, not principle,” he said, adding that this message was delivered directly during his talks with Herzog.
Stubb described these interactions as part of Finland’s normal diplomatic routine, which he referred to as shuttle diplomacy. The country continues to operate with consistency, clarity, and a strong belief in liberal democratic values.