Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö has published a blog text that discusses the uncertain situation in global politics ahead of June’s Kultaranta discussions. President Niinistö writes that during the spring he has been thinking about the situations in Ukraine, Syria and Korea, and the crises of Jemen, Sahel and Afganistan. New crises have appeared since then, including the Israel-Iran conflict and the entire transatlantic relationship. The EU is a global economic power, but otherwise uninvolved in global politics. It will be difficult for EU to impose the message of order on superpowers led by individuals such as Xi Jinping, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

President Niinistö said that President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran treaty raises a general question about trust. Europe may have solidarity towards NATO, but it must be prepared to solve security problems without the United States.

Yle notes that according to President Niinistö, foreign and security policy has taken a step backwards. The rapid development of the digital world, artificial intelligence and economy does not compensate for the fact that words such as « ballistic missile » and « nuclear war » are becoming commonplace.

According to Verkkouutiset, the President says that the Kultaranta discussions will culminate on a single question: Strength and power, or common order?

Media:  Demokraatti, Helsingin Sanomat, Iltalehti, Ilta-Sanomat, Keskisuomalainen, Uusi Suomi, Verkkouutiset.fi, YLE Uutiset
Date: 14.5.2018
Journalist: Juha-Pekka Raeste
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