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Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the European Union must remain strong and united after US President Donald Trump announced sweeping import tariffs earlier this week.
Speaking at a National Coalition Party event in Turku on Saturday, Orpo said Trump’s announcement had triggered significant market reactions and raised broader concerns.
“Trump’s move was harsh and wide-ranging, which is why markets have reacted so strongly,” Orpo said. “This is his way. First he puts extreme goals on the table, and the outcome ends up being something else. Now the European Union must be strong and united. That brings us security.”
Orpo linked economic resilience to national defence.
“Without a healthy economy, there is no basis for security,” he said.
The tariffs risk disrupting global production chains. Orpo noted this could affect the availability of metals and critical components used in the defence industry.
He repeated Finland’s position on NATO, saying Europe continues to rely on the alliance for its defence, but is also assuming more responsibility.
“Europe is quickly taking on more responsibility for its own defence, while at the same time strengthening NATO,” he said.
Orpo also pointed to education, public awareness, and broad political consensus as key to Finland’s national resilience.
“Finland’s strength is supported by education, knowledge, and the will to understand what is happening around us,” he said. “It is important that all parliamentary parties remain committed to democratic rules.”
Orpo referenced recent societal pressure points.
“Negative phenomena on social media, information influence operations, hybrid attacks on infrastructure, and the war in Ukraine have tested the Finnish people,” he said. “One must truly take off their hat to Finns for how strong our resilience has been.”
Hybrid CoE Director Teija Tiilikainen said Russia’s actions in Ukraine are part of a broader geopolitical shift.
“Through the war in Ukraine, Russia has made its goals clear,” Tiilikainen said. “The aim is not only to keep Ukraine out of NATO or NATO out of Ukraine. The aim is a world order more favourable to Russia.”
She said Russia is pushing for a world dominated by great powers.
“Russia wants a system where the large powers have more rights than the small ones—and where large powers are entitled to spheres of influence,” she said. “Russia is seeking this kind of order. It has shown its cards through the war. Even if the war ends, this goal remains. There is a long road to mutual trust.”
Foreign Ministry Ambassador for Technology Stefan Lindström said technology has become a major tool of global political influence.
He cited the growth of social media, large infrastructure projects, rising volumes of data, and artificial intelligence as
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
