Stubb says NATO shifting back to Cold War posture against Russia

By admin On Jun 25, 2025

President of Finland Alexander Stubb speaks to the media upon arriving for the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government during the NATO summit in The Hague, the Netherlands, on June 25, 2025. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said NATO is returning to its roots as a counterweight to Russia, with member states now investing in defence at Cold War-era levels.

Speaking at the NATO summit in Brussels, Stubb said the alliance is becoming “more European” in both composition and priorities. “We are witnessing the emergence of a new, more balanced NATO,” he said.

Stubb affirmed Finland’s trust in the alliance’s mutual defence commitment.

“Finland has full confidence in NATO’s Article 5,” he said, referencing the collective defence clause which obliges members to respond if one is attacked.

The comment came as NATO members, with the exception of Spain, agreed to significantly boost defence spending. Stubb said this represented a clear win for both US President Donald Trump and Europe.

Despite the spending pledges, Trump questioned the scope of Article 5 while en route to the summit. “There’s numerous definitions of Article 5, you know that right?” he told reporters. “I’m going to give you an exact definition when I get there,” he added.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen responded that Article 5 is not subject to interpretation. “Each member decides how it contributes, but the wording itself is not open,” she said. Valtonen said she believes Trump remains fully committed to the alliance.

Valtonen also met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and described her discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as productive. She emphasised Finland’s support for Ukraine in its defence against Russia.

Stubb highlighted Finland’s own commitment to national defence, citing the country’s long and shared history with Russia and the length of its eastern border.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi