Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva
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Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on Monday there is no current reason to alter Finland’s policy on recognising the State of Palestine, despite increasing international calls for action and growing political pressure within Europe.
Speaking during a visit to France, Valtonen told Yle that Finland is monitoring developments closely and maintaining dialogue with its international peers, but has not initiated any formal shift in position.
“We are, of course, cooperating with the international community and, crucially, with our most important peer countries,” she said.
Last week, France announced its intention to formally recognise Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in September. The decision is expected to influence other European countries, including Finland, where the issue has returned to public debate.
Valtonen identified Denmark and the United Kingdom as countries Finland views as relevant reference points in foreign policy. She said Finland is in “active dialogue” with those governments, but that each state acts independently.
“Each state makes its own sovereign decisions,” she said.
Valtonen recently met her French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, but declined to say whether France had encouraged Finland to take a firmer stance.
“Jean-Noël and I speak almost daily. It doesn’t require intense lobbying — it’s more about exchanging information and perspectives,” she said.
Valtonen added that discussions with Barrot also covered topics beyond the Middle East. She noted, however, that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains a critical concern.
“We’re witnessing famine and immense human suffering. The international community and the EU have a duty to do everything they can to alleviate this suffering,” she said.
While Finland’s political leadership has previously stated that recognition of Palestine could occur alongside action by comparable European states, the government’s current position remains unchanged.
Valtonen stressed that foreign and security policy is constitutionally led by the president in cooperation with the government.
“At this stage, there hasn’t been a need to update our official position,” she said.
Finland has long supported a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Valtonen reiterated that this remains the guiding principle of Finnish diplomacy.
Despite the government’s unchanged stance, domestic political pressure is increasing. A recent Yle survey found that a majority of parliamentary parties support recognition. The Social Democratic Party, Left Alliance, Greens and Movement Now all favour immediate action.
Valtonen’s National Coalition Party and the Swedish People’s Party also support recognition in principle, but prefer a more gradual approach. The Finns Party and the Christian Democrats oppose the move outright.
The division within the governing coalition complicates any rapid shift in policy. The foreign ministry has not announced any timeline for potential reconsideration, and no formal legislative or diplomatic steps are currently underway.
Valtonen said that Finland would continue to observe the positions of key allies but would make any decision according to its own foreign policy process.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
