President Alexander Stubb met members of the media at his official residence in Helsinki on Wednesday, 6 November. Stubb assured that Finland and the US will continue to co-operate closely also under a second Trump administration. (Seppo Samuli – Str / Lehtikuva)
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PRESIDENT Alexander Stubb has congratulated the Republicans’ Donald Trump for his victory in the presidential elections held in the US on Tuesday, 5 November.
Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democrats ultimately in decisive fashion, picking up each of the five first crucial swing states to be called: Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Also Arizona and Nevada, the two remaining swing states, are leaning in the direction of the former president – as is the national popular vote. No Republican candidate, including Trump, has won the popular vote in two decades.
“American democracy has spoken, the result is clear,” Stubb was quoted saying to Finnish journalists by YLE on Wednesday, 6 November.
The US presidential elections captured public attention also in Finland, raising questions, as well as concerns, about the implications of the outcomes, acknowledged Stubb.
“Democracy often leads to change,” he commented, reminding that elections across the western world ultimately tend to boil down to concrete issues, such as employment and housing loans. “We’re living in times where we’re seeing a trend that emphasises slightly different issues than 30 years ago.”
He also underscored that the west must look after democracy and the well-being of society.
With Trump promising to negotiate a quick peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, Stubb stressed that any negotiations about peace should respect the sovereignty and right to self-determination of Ukraine.
“We’ll see what kind of a peace plan the Trump administration will pursue,” he said. “I’m pretty sure that the negotiations will now enter a new phase.”
Finnish—US collaboration, he assured, will continue also under a second Trump presidency. “Finland’s foreign policy line is stable. Finland and the US will continue close collaboration based on that also under the new administration,” he stated.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen (NCP) similarly assured that the Finnish—US relationship will continue also under a Trump White House.
“And it isn’t only a question of our bilateral relationship. The transatlantic relationship has significance for Europe, but a lot of significance also for the US. In these times, no one can have too many friends,” she was quoted saying to journalists in the Parliament House by Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday.
Valtonen said Finland and the Nordics will continue to emphasise the importance of continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
“This is still our message to the US. It’s not only about Ukraine, but about a permanent threat from Russia on Europe’s security and the entire alliance,” she commented.
Where Finland agrees with the US is that Europe has to do a better job at doing its share, according to Valtonen. “Trump’s message in 2016 might have come as a surprise, but in fact the US message to Europe has long been that Europe has to do more about its defence deterrence. Finland is completely on the same page here. We’re advocating for Europe to strengthen especially its defence industry.”
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
