Finland's President Stubb on the New World Order and UN Reform at UNGA 80

Foreign Policy: Values, Interests, and Power

• 🇫🇮 Finland, as a smaller nation, focuses its foreign policy on values and interests, as hard or soft power is typically a luxury for larger states.
• 🤝 The power of smaller countries arises from their capacity to cooperate and engage in smart diplomacy to gain relative influence.
• 🌍 The current world order is in flux, similar to the post-World War II era, and the new order will likely take 5-10 years to stabilize.

Multilateralism vs. Multipolarity

• ⚖️ There's a growing tension between multilateralism (rule of law) and multipolarity/transactionalism (interest-driven foreign policy).
• 💡 While multipolarity can be opportunistic or justified, it may not solve global challenges like climate change or sustainable development.
• 🌐 Foreign policy, even transactional, should be underpinned by fundamental values to avoid conflict and recurring problems.

Shifting Global Power Dynamics

• 📈 The balance of power is shifting towards the Global South and East, with these regions becoming key players due to economic and demographic growth.
• ✊ These emerging powers possess both agency and power, influencing the direction of the new world order.
• 🚫 Fundamental values like sovereignty, territorial integrity, prohibition of force, and respect for human rights are crucial for the UN.
• ⚠️ The speech explicitly condemns Russia's aggression in Ukraine, Israel's actions in Palestine, and the use of territories for proxy wars.

Challenges Facing the United Nations

• 📉 The UN struggles to maintain peace and stability, with countries increasingly breaking international law and using force.
• 🏛️ The current UN structure, largely reflecting the 1945 world, does not adequately represent the current balance of power and often fails to coordinate interests or uphold values.
• 🚀 If the UN fails to adapt and deliver, the trend towards multipolarity and transactionalism will accelerate.

Proposals for UN Reform and Global Solutions

• 🕊️ The UN needs reform to enhance its credibility, relevance, and efficiency, focusing on ending wars, protecting human rights, and catalyzing sustainable development.
• 🤝 Finland advocates for increasing permanent seats in the UN Security Council for underrepresented regions (Asia, Africa, Latin America) and removing veto power.
• 🎤 The UN must re-engage in peace mediation, as its absence contributes to the proliferation of wars.
• 🇵🇸 Finland supports a two-state solution for Palestine, ending the 1967 occupation and resolving permanent status issues, while strengthening the Palestinian Authority.
• 📰 The crucial work of journalists must be protected, as media freedom is a prerequisite for democracy and open societies.
• 🇸🇪 Finland is running for a Security Council seat (2029-2030) and pledges to be a principled and pragmatic partner for peace.