Finland does not give up the F-35. Stubb: We must trust the US despite changes

I would definitely not change the agreements regarding the purchase of F-35 fighters from the US. In previous years, Finland opted for associating its arms industry and defense structures with the United States as closely as possible, and this should still be trusted, despite changes in Washington's foreign policy, said President Alexander Stubb.

The president commented on the controversial issue of the largest arms order in Finland's history – the purchase of 64 new multi-role F-35 fighters from Lockheed Martin. At the conference after the ceremonial opening of the spring session of the Finnish Parliament, Stubb was asked especially about Finnish-American relations in the face of changing US foreign policy and Americans' current views on European security.

According to the Finnish president, the European continent is not the highest priority of the US administration and is currently behind the Western Hemisphere and the Asia-Pacific region, which means that Europe must take more responsibility for itself.

– At the same time, the US is interested in improving the security of the Arctic region – admitted Stubb, recalling that the agreements concluded last year regarding the construction of icebreakers for the Americans have tied the United States even more with Finland. Finnish shipyards are the world's largest supplier of this type of specialized ships in the world, and the US does not have a single icebreaker.

Radio Yle pointed out that some experts, in connection with US plans to annex Greenland (an autonomous territory of Denmark), demand the cancellation of contracts, at least when it comes to fighter jets. – Half of Europe has already ordered American F-35s. Therefore, the agreement with Finland will not change the security situation from the perspective of the entire continent. So you can only trust the US, because there is really nothing else you can do and withdrawing from the agreements would be unwise,” commented the Finnish broadcaster.

The first aircraft built for the Finnish Air Force was presented at the end of last year at American plants. According to the schedule, the first F-35s are to arrive in the Lapland squadron in 2026, and from 2027 they are to gradually replace the well-used – over 30-year-old – F/A-18 Hornets also in other units. (PAP)

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