Finnish President: NATO is a Defensive Alliance, Refuses to Participate in US-Iran War
Finnish President Alexander Stubb emphasized that NATO is a defensive alliance and stated Finland's refusal to participate in a US-Iran war, directly responding to former President Trump's criticism of NATO allies. Stubb announced Finland's attendance at the Strait of Hormuz security conference, with specific participation methods yet to be decided. He also agreed with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to deepen military cooperation between Finland and Canada. Stubb noted that a redistribution of responsibilities is underway within NATO, with European nations gradually assuming primary responsibility for traditional ground operations.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 16:16
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 16:31 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 20:06 (3h 34m after Collected)
HELSINKI, April 15 (CNA) – During the US-Iran war, Trump accused NATO allies of cowardice and letting the US fight alone. Finnish President Alexander Stubb directly responded, clearly drawing a line: NATO is a defensive alliance, and allies' obligations are limited to this.
Stubb also announced on the 14th that Finland would attend the Strait of Hormuz security conference convened by France and the UK, but how to actually participate is yet to be decided.
According to Helsingin Sanomat, Stubb explained Finland's position to accompanying journalists during his visit to Ottawa, the capital of Canada, on the 14th, where he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney. France and the UK will hold a meeting on the 17th, inviting willing countries to discuss defense operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Stubb confirmed his attendance and will personally represent Finland at the meeting.
He also humorously remarked, as Canadians would say, 'We have icebreakers, but icebreakers are useless in the Strait of Hormuz.'
The report analyzed that Trump's tariffs and territorial threats put Canada under immense pressure, and Canada, having had enough of the US, actively turned towards Europe. Stubb and Carney agreed during their talks to deepen military cooperation between Finland and Canada.
Canada's military strength is about 1/10 of that of the US, and it barely met NATO's defense spending target of 2% of GDP in March, so the gap it can fill is limited. However, the establishment of the connection itself has symbolic significance.
The rift within the NATO alliance was the main theme of this visit. Trump recently aimed his criticism at European allies, accusing them of being unwilling to help in the Iran conflict, even threatening to destroy 'Iranian civilization,' and publicly criticizing Pope Leo XIV's call for a ceasefire. The report said that Stubb, during recent communications with Trump and his team, personally felt the strong frustration from the US side, as allies' failure to follow suit made the US increasingly impatient.
Stubb stated directly: 'The position we have always conveyed is that NATO is a defensive alliance, and the US-Iran war is not our job.'
Regarding Trump's recent remarks, he refused to criticize directly, only saying that Finland focuses on areas it can influence, including continuing to promote US support for Ukraine. 'We are very pragmatic, trying to see further through the fog.'
Stubb also recently attended the Bilderberg Meeting in Washington D.C., where he met with members of the US executive team. He revealed that although he did not meet Trump in person, they still maintain contact, just not as frequently as before. 'We probably talk less now,' he said, adding that their personal relationship is 'overall still normal.'
Stubb emphasized that a redistribution of responsibilities is underway within NATO, with the primary responsibility for traditional ground operations gradually shifting to European countries. He pointed out that there are about 80,000 to 90,000 US soldiers stationed in Europe, and a reduction of 10,000 would not be a decisive blow. What is truly irreplaceable is US intelligence sharing and nuclear deterrence capabilities. 'Technical capabilities cannot be transferred, that is the real key.' (Editor: Wei Hsu) 1150415
Stubb also announced on the 14th that Finland would attend the Strait of Hormuz security conference convened by France and the UK, but how to actually participate is yet to be decided.
According to Helsingin Sanomat, Stubb explained Finland's position to accompanying journalists during his visit to Ottawa, the capital of Canada, on the 14th, where he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney. France and the UK will hold a meeting on the 17th, inviting willing countries to discuss defense operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Stubb confirmed his attendance and will personally represent Finland at the meeting.
He also humorously remarked, as Canadians would say, 'We have icebreakers, but icebreakers are useless in the Strait of Hormuz.'
The report analyzed that Trump's tariffs and territorial threats put Canada under immense pressure, and Canada, having had enough of the US, actively turned towards Europe. Stubb and Carney agreed during their talks to deepen military cooperation between Finland and Canada.
Canada's military strength is about 1/10 of that of the US, and it barely met NATO's defense spending target of 2% of GDP in March, so the gap it can fill is limited. However, the establishment of the connection itself has symbolic significance.
The rift within the NATO alliance was the main theme of this visit. Trump recently aimed his criticism at European allies, accusing them of being unwilling to help in the Iran conflict, even threatening to destroy 'Iranian civilization,' and publicly criticizing Pope Leo XIV's call for a ceasefire. The report said that Stubb, during recent communications with Trump and his team, personally felt the strong frustration from the US side, as allies' failure to follow suit made the US increasingly impatient.
Stubb stated directly: 'The position we have always conveyed is that NATO is a defensive alliance, and the US-Iran war is not our job.'
Regarding Trump's recent remarks, he refused to criticize directly, only saying that Finland focuses on areas it can influence, including continuing to promote US support for Ukraine. 'We are very pragmatic, trying to see further through the fog.'
Stubb also recently attended the Bilderberg Meeting in Washington D.C., where he met with members of the US executive team. He revealed that although he did not meet Trump in person, they still maintain contact, just not as frequently as before. 'We probably talk less now,' he said, adding that their personal relationship is 'overall still normal.'
Stubb emphasized that a redistribution of responsibilities is underway within NATO, with the primary responsibility for traditional ground operations gradually shifting to European countries. He pointed out that there are about 80,000 to 90,000 US soldiers stationed in Europe, and a reduction of 10,000 would not be a decisive blow. What is truly irreplaceable is US intelligence sharing and nuclear deterrence capabilities. 'Technical capabilities cannot be transferred, that is the real key.' (Editor: Wei Hsu) 1150415
FAQ
What stance did Finnish President Stubb take regarding the US-Iran war?
President Stubb stated that NATO is a defensive alliance and that the US-Iran war is not NATO's job, thus Finland would not participate.
Will Finland attend the Strait of Hormuz security conference?
Yes, Finland announced its attendance at the Strait of Hormuz security conference convened by France and the UK.