Finland Rejects Trump’s Peace Board, Targets China Visit

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Finnish leadership is charting a cautious diplomatic course this week, striking a balance between a firm European alliance and unconventional U.S. initiatives, while simultaneously strengthening ties with Beijing. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Alexander Stubb delivered a lecture on the "New World Order," while Prime Minister Petteri Orpo travelled to Brussels for a high-stakes dinner with EU leaders. The Brussels meeting, hosted by European Council President António Costa, is centred on the defence of Greenland and Arctic security, a crisis that appeared to de-escalate on Thursday as U.S. President Donald Trump backed away from previous threats of military action and tariffs. 

Despite the reprieve, Finland remains resolute in its refusal to join Trump’s newly launched "Board of Peace." The project, which positions the U.S. President as a primary mediator for conflicts like Gaza, has been rejected by most of Europe, with Hungary being the only EU nation to accept a seat at a projected cost of $1 billion over three years. President Stubb emphasised that Finland will stick to a "pan-European line" alongside France and Sweden, insisting that any peace mediation must operate under a formal UN mandate.

While distancing itself from Washington’s "Peace Council," Finland is proactively expanding its diplomatic horizon toward the East. Prime Minister Orpo’s office announced he will lead an official visit to China next week to meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, marking the first trip by a Finnish Prime Minister to Beijing in nearly a decade. 

The mission aims to address critical international issues, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and the preservation of the rules-based trade system. As the EU’s second-largest trading partner, China remains a vital market for Finnish export firms, particularly in the sectors of green transition and climate technology. By prioritising "reciprocity and equal market access" in Beijing while maintaining a unified front in Brussels, Finland is signalling its intent to act as a stable "middle power" amidst the growing rupture in traditional transatlantic relations.