Finnish President Stubb meets Trump in Florida, discuss bilateral partnership strengthening

Finnish President Alexander Stubb made a sudden trip to meet US President Donald Trump yesterday on his property in Florida, where both leaders discussed strengthening bilateral partnerships between their countries, according to Reuters.

« President Stubb and I look forward to strengthening the partnership between the United States of America and Finland, and this includes the purchase and development of a large number of ice-needed ice, offering international peace and security for our countries and the world, » Trump said in a post on social media.

The two presidents met for breakfast, played golf and lunch together. They also discussed foreign policy issues, including Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Stubb in Helsinki last week.

The Finnish president’s office said in a statement that Stubb’s unanimous visit to Trump’s property at Mar-A-Lago at West Palm Beach, Florida, was informal.

The meeting took place a day after the US Vice President of Trump, JD Vance, paid an uninvited visit to Greenland, an autonomous territory of Finland’s close Nordic ally, Denmark.

Vance accused Denmark of a poor job by keeping Greenland safe.

Trump has expressed interest in buying Greenland, part of an international focus on competition to control the Arctic.

The Denmark government opposes such action, like most Greenland residents.

Finland is the world’s leading ice maker. About 80% of ships are designed by Finnish companies and about 60% of them were built on Finnish shipyards.

In November, Canada, Finland and the administration of former US President Joe Biden signed an agreement called the Ice Cooperation (ICE)-to work together to develop the Arctic and Polar Class Ice Class through the exchange of knowledge, information and resources.

Prior to his visit, Stubb said he hoped to play Golf with Trump and that the diplomacy of ice could help Finland maintain good relations with the US and Trump.

Finland shares the longest border of the European Union with Russia. After Russia occupied Ukraine, the country made a turn of foreign policy after decades of a lack of military engagement, deciding to join NATO along with Sweden.

Trump’s frequent criticism of NATO allies and its change towards normalizing relations with Russia have made some European countries try to increase their defense spending. // he/ATSH