It is necessary to stop the West Asia war from spreading, emphasised Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who also voiced concerns on the U.S. sinking an Iranian ship in the Indian Ocean. Mr. Stubb, who is seen as a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump said that while European countries would side with America in the conflict, he did believe that the U.S. and Israel were acting “outside the framework of traditional international law” with their strikes on Iran that assassinated the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. On the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in Delhi where he was the chief guest, Mr. Stubb said the non-alignment policy suited a country of India’s size and geography. Excerpts:
Are you concerned that [the war in West Asia] could spread? After the attack by the U.S. on an Iranian ship in the Indian Ocean, are you concerned that this is now headed towards a world war, and do you see an end game?
I would argue, ever since Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, [conflicts] have become regional and we’ve seen that trend grow. Israel-Palestine, now Israel-U.S.-Iran, and then Iran versus the Gulf states. We should try to avoid to make this war into a global conflict, and use all de-escalatory means necessary at this stage. The less states are hit by this, the better. But the truth, of course, is that we can’t be ostriches and put our heads in the sand. The price of oil will have an impact. The closing of the Hormuz Strait will have an impact on global trade. We’re all affected by this, but now we just need to contain it.
Spain, France and today, Slovenia have very clearly condemned the U.S.-Israel attacks, which were the first strike in this war. Yet countries, including Finland, have not. Is Europe divided over what has happened?
No, I think it is as united as Europe is. I mean, it’s 27 states. Even on the war in Russia, we have disparate voices from, for instance, Hungary and partially Slovakia. So European foreign policy is never perfect. But if the question was, do we back America or Iran, I think the answer is very clear, we back America.
Despite the fact that U.S.-Israel cast the first strike?
Despite that fact, and you can, of course, see the United Kingdom and France allowing the United States to use their bases for the strike. So in that sense, I think it’s quite clear where their sympathies are.
You discussed the war in Ukraine with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and there was a reference to it in the joint statement. Was there anything you requested India to do?
For a country like Finland, the key conflict is Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. So I was able to explain to Prime Minister Modi why there are security concerns about Russian aggression in the region, I think both of us were very focused on a path towards peace. India is a peace-loving nation, and India is one of the few that can talk to both Russia and to Ukraine on an equal footing and with equal respect from both leaders.
The U.S. has announced it is giving India a 30-day waiver from sanctions to buy Russian oil. How do you respond to that?
(Smiles) You know, I’m a humble President from a country of 5.6 million people. I’m not going to intervene in the international relations or diplomacy between India and the United States.
Do you hope India will continue to decrease Russian oil imports as it has for some months?
I don’t give advice to a leader from a country that has 7% annual growth rate and a population of a little bit less than 1.5 billion. I can only explain what the impact of oil purchases are for the Russian war machinery, but it’s not my decision, it’s for India to decide itself.
The Finnish government announced it is preparing to allow the acquisition of nuclear weapons. Why this major change in position?
This is not about Finland acquiring nuclear weapons. We have no such plans, and Finland will not become a nuclear state. It is about erasing an anomaly in Finnish legislation (from 1987). We’re bringing our legislation to the same level as the other Nordic states. And we are dismantling any impediments to us being a part of NATO’s nuclear planning. It’s not against anyone. It’s for our own security.
I wanted to ask about what’s seen as double standards in this war: the U.S. and Israel have carried out strikes to take out the head of another state, invade the territory, do away with the sovereignty in a manner that has not been condemned as much by you or by other members of the European Union as in the past…
I think it is quite clear that Israel and the United States are working outside the framework of traditional international law. It is also clear that building nuclear weapons in Iran is against international law, and the attacks that Iran has launched on 10 states in the Middle East and the Gulf and also in Europe with Cyprus, and Turkey and Azerbaijan are also outside the scope of international law.
At the Raisina Dialogue inaugural speech you called for a “New Delhi moment” conference to discuss the new multilateral world order. Do you suggest that the United Nations should be replaced?
No, we need to revise the United Nations. We need to have multilateral institutions reflect the world of 2026, not the world of 1945 and that’s why countries like India need to have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. That’s why the power balance in the financial institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO needs to be changed and revamped.
You praised India for its non-alignment and multi-alignment since Independence. Why do you think that has worked for India?
Because your geographic location is different and your size is very different, you’re able to project power in a way in which a small country cannot. For me, power is influence. For you, power is soft, hard, smart and influence. So there’s a big difference.
