Finnish President Alexander Stubb made a shock journey on Saturday to satisfy with US President Donald Trump in Florida, the place the 2 leaders mentioned strengthening their nations’ bilateral partnership and performed a spherical of golf.
“President Stubb and I sit up for strengthening the partnership between the USA and Finland, and that features the acquisition and improvement of a lot of badly wanted Icebreakers for the US, delivering Peace and Worldwide Safety for our Nations, and the World,” Trump posted on his Fact Social platform.
I used to be honored to play in and win the Trump Worldwide Spring Member-Visitor Match right this moment.
President Trump was superior! Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who performed golf at Furman College, was superb. The legendary Gary Participant was the Rock of Gibraltar. Trey Gowdy… pic.twitter.com/vF5oMDr7zb
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 29, 2025
Trump’s assembly with Stubb befell a day after Vice President JD Vance made an uninvited go to to Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Finland’s shut Nordic ally Denmark. Vance accused Denmark of doing a poor job preserving Greenland protected.
Trump has repeatedly expressed curiosity in buying Greenland, a part of a rising worldwide give attention to competitors to regulate the Arctic. Denmark’s authorities opposes such a transfer, as do most Greenland residents.
Trump advised NBC Information in an interview on Saturday that he would “by no means take army power off the desk” to perform his purpose, however stated he imagine there was “a very good chance” it could possibly be finished with out resorting to power.
Requested what message buying Greenland would ship to Russia and the remainder of the world, Trump stated, “I don’t actually take into consideration that. I don’t actually care.”
Finland is the world’s main producer of icebreakers. About 80% of the ships have been designed by Finnish firms, and round 60% of them have been constructed at Finnish shipyards.
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In November, Canada, Finland and the US administration of former President Joe Biden signed a deal known as the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort to work “collectively to develop world-class Arctic and polar icebreakers via the trade of information, info, and assets.”
Earlier than his go to, Stubb had stated he hoped to play golf with Trump and that icebreaker diplomacy might assist Finland keep good relations with the US and Trump.
Finland shares the European Union’s longest border with Russia. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Helsinki made a international coverage U-turn after a long time of army non-alignment, deciding to hitch NATO along with Sweden.
Trump’s frequent criticism of NATO allies and his shift towards normalizing relations with Russia have some European nations scrambling to spice up their very own protection spending.
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The 2 presidents met for breakfast, performed golf and had lunch collectively. In addition they mentioned international coverage points, together with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Stubb in Helsinki final week.
The Finnish president’s workplace stated in a press release that Stubb’s unannounced go to with Trump was casual. Trump arrived at his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Seashore, Florida, on Friday afternoon, earlier than heading to the golf membership he owns in West Palm Seashore on Saturday morning for a golf event.
Senator Lindsey Graham joined Trump’s staff, he stated in a submit on X, wherein he additionally praised {the golfing} expertise of Stubb, who performed golf as an undergraduate at Furman College in Graham’s house state of South Carolina.
Trump’s assembly with Stubb befell a day after Vice President JD Vance made an uninvited go to to Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Finland’s shut Nordic ally Denmark. Vance accused Denmark of doing a poor job preserving Greenland protected.
Story continues under this advert
Trump has repeatedly expressed curiosity in buying Greenland, a part of a rising worldwide give attention to competitors to regulate the Arctic. Denmark’s authorities opposes such a transfer, as do most Greenland residents.
Trump advised NBC Information in an interview on Saturday that he would “by no means take army power off the desk” to perform his purpose, however stated he imagine there was “a very good chance” it could possibly be finished with out resorting to power.
Requested what message buying Greenland would ship to Russia and the remainder of the world, Trump stated, “I don’t actually take into consideration that. I don’t actually care.”
Finland is the world’s main producer of icebreakers. About 80% of the ships have been designed by Finnish firms, and round 60% of them have been constructed at Finnish shipyards.
Story continues under this advert
In November, Canada, Finland and the US administration of former President Joe Biden signed a deal known as the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort to work “collectively to develop world-class Arctic and polar icebreakers via the trade of information, info, and assets.”
Earlier than his go to, Stubb had stated he hoped to play golf with Trump and that icebreaker diplomacy might assist Finland keep good relations with the US and Trump.
Finland shares the European Union’s longest border with Russia. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Helsinki made a international coverage U-turn after a long time of army non-alignment, deciding to hitch NATO along with Sweden.
Trump’s frequent criticism of NATO allies and his shift towards normalizing relations with Russia have some European nations scrambling to spice up their very own protection spending.
