Speaking at a panel discussion entitled “Tariff-fying Times: Managing the Weaponisation of Trade”, Finnish President Alexander Stubb has argued for a new European attitude to the state of the world.
“The choice right now is fairly binary,” he says. “You have those who support a multipolar world, which is transactional, deal-based and based on spheres of interest. And then you have those who support a multilateral world…we support the idea of international institutions, rules, norms and cooperation.”
“For demographic reasons, for economic reasons, for geopolitical reasons, it’s going to be the global south that decides the next world order. And how do we make a value proposition?
“What I’ve tried to do is to say that we base our foreign policy on values-based realism, so to be true to your values: human rights, fundamental rights, democracy, freedom, rule of law – but be realistic, you cannot solve issues of trade, conflict, climate or technology just with like-minded countries.”
He also thanked World Trade Organisation Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also on the panel. for describing Finland as a “middle power”.
Finnish president Alexander Stubb answers questions of journalists at the Munich Security Conference at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024.Â