President of the United States Joe Biden and the President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö emphasized the countries’ historically close relations at a press conference held after the Nordic-US summit on Thursday.
In his speech, Niinistö thanked Biden for his strong support during Finland’s NATO membership process. Biden, on the other hand, wanted to build trust and repeatedly emphasized that the US commitment to the defense of its allies is “rock-hard”.
– We defend every corner of NATO, including Finland, Biden guaranteed.
However, US foreign policy can make a complete turn if, for example, it is critical of NATO Donald Trump win the presidential election next year.
‘s U.S. correspondent at the presidents’ press conference Iida Tikka told Biden that the US Senate has failed to pass legislation that would prevent the president from withdrawing the US from NATO without congressional support.
Tikka asked Biden how he will ensure the United States remains in NATO in the future as well.
Biden replied that the concern is pointless, as a clear majority of both the American people and members of Congress support a commitment to defend the military alliance. According to Biden, only a small “extremist group” in the Republican Party criticizes the country’s NATO membership.
– Nobody can guarantee the future, but this is the best possible bet, Biden formulated.
Tikka continued on the topic by asking President Niinistö if he is worried about the political instability of the United States and that the future of security guaranteed by the United States is not guaranteed.
However, Biden took the floor before Niinistö.
– Give it when I’m clear. I didn’t say we couldn’t guarantee your safety, Biden said.
Biden went around saying that no one can predict the future, and no one knows for sure if they will get home safely in the evening. However, he assured that the United States can be trusted.
– As surely as anything can be said about US foreign policy, we remain connected to NATO, Biden said.
After Biden, Niinistö was able to answer that he has met a total of about 50 members of the House of Representatives and senators, and their message about the US’s commitment to NATO has been consistent.
– I have no reason to doubt the US policies in the future, Niinistö said.
Even after this, Biden continued that the United States has learned throughout its history that the security of Europe is essential to the security of the United States itself.
However, Biden did not answer how he would concretely prevent the NATO-critical president from pulling the United States out of NATO by the president’s decision alone.
Niinistö: Negotiations about the US military base can be held
A reporter from the financial newspaper Wall Street Journal asked Niinistö how Finland views the idea of a permanent US military base in Finland.
According to Niinistö, Finland and the United States are discussing defense policy issues within the framework of the DCA defense cooperation agreement between the countries, and there are still many open issues in cooperation.
– We are open to negotiations. I know that my counterpart is also open to negotiations. So we’ll see, Niinistö answered.
A journalist from the news channel CNN asked Niinistö for his part if Finland has noticed anything worrisome on its eastern border recently.
Niinistö replied that the situation at the Finnish border was “quite calm”. However, Niinistö added that NATO membership has increased Finns’ sense of security and a clear majority of Finns support membership in NATO.
This is how Biden’s day in Helsinki progressed
Biden spent the night at the Radisson Blu Royal hotel in the center of Helsinki.
Biden left the hotel in a motorcade around 1:00 p.m. on his way to the Presidential Palace. At least hundreds of people had gathered on the streets of Helsinki to catch a glimpse of the president.
President Sauli Niinistö received Biden at the presidential palace. The delegations of the Finnish and American presidents had been allocated about an hour’s time for bilateral discussions before the day’s summit.
The media could follow the presidents’ opening speeches. Niinistö welcomed Biden and emphasized the Finns’ interest in the visit.
– The streets of Helsinki are full of Finns, Niinistö said.
– They clearly are, answered Biden.
Biden continued that he was happy to visit Finland for the second time. He was in Helsinki for the first time as vice president in 2011.
After this, Biden recalled Niinistö’s phone call to the White House in the spring of 2022. Biden said he remembered how Niinistö called and asked if he could fly to the United States to negotiate NATO membership.
– It took me about three seconds to say yes, Biden said.
After the presidents’ opening speeches, the media were directed outside the room. Finland and the United States did not publish a press release about the continuation of the discussion.
Biden emphasized common values at the meeting between the USA and the Nordic countries
After the bilateral meeting between Finland and the United States, the main event of the day was organized in the Presidential Palace, i.e. the summit meeting between the United States and the Nordic countries.
In addition to Biden’s and Niinistö’s groups, the Prime Minister of Sweden took part in the meeting with his own groups Ulf KristerssonPrime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr StørePrime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen and the Prime Minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
– If we left all important decisions to the Nordic countries, things would be fine, Biden joked before his opening speech.
In his speech, Biden emphasized that the United States and the Nordic countries share common challenges and values. In particular, Biden emphasized the work to stop the climate crisis.
Published by the Office of the President of the Republic bulletin According to The countries also assured that democracy and the rule of law serve as the basis for cooperation between the countries.
Niinistö published a message of thanks to Biden
After the press conference held at the Presidential Palace, Biden left in a motorcade directly to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and from there on Air Force One to the United States.
After that, Niinistö published a message on the messaging service Twitter, in which he thanked Biden for his visit to Finland.
– Thank you for your visit and your rock-solid commitment to our relationship. As allies, Finland and the United States work even more closely in the fields of security, technology and the environment, Niinistö wrote.