Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has described recent US remarks about Greenland as a negotiation tactic rather than a sign of real military intent. In an interview with Finland’s public broadcaster Yle on Friday, Orpo warned that any potential military occupation of Greenland would create a catastrophic situation, especially if one NATO member intervened militarily in another member’s territory.

Orpo emphasized that NATO remains a valuable alliance for the United States and said he does not believe Washington would take such an extreme step as seizing Greenland. He acknowledged that Finland’s security and defense are heavily dependent on the United States but reaffirmed his country’s commitment to a multilateral world order, the role of the United Nations, and adherence to international law.

He further stated that the future of Greenland should be determined by the people of Greenland and Denmark. The comments followed US President Donald Trump’s renewed expression of interest in acquiring Greenland for national security reasons after a military operation in Venezuela on January 3.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has issued a formal apology to several Asian countries following a controversy involving racist social media posts by far-right members of Finland’s parliament. The posts, which included images mocking Asian facial features, sparked widespread criticism and were dubbed the 'slanted eyes' scandal by Finnish media. Orpo, who leads a four-party coalition government including the nationalist Finns Party, said the images do not reflect Finland’s values of equality and inclusion.

The incident began earlier this month when a friend of a former Miss Finland posted a photo imitating Asian eyes, captioned as dining with a Chinese person. Two Finns Party MPs and one European Parliament member later shared similar images. Finland’s national airline, Finnair, reported negative reactions in Asian markets, while the Finns Party said it would discuss the matter in its upcoming meeting.

This is not the first time Orpo’s government has faced racial controversy. In 2023, racist remarks by Finns Party ministers nearly triggered a no-confidence vote, raising questions about the coalition’s stability and Finland’s international image.

Finland has announced plans to close its embassies in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar by 2026 as part of a broader restructuring of its foreign mission network. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs stated that the decision was driven by operational and strategic considerations, including shifting political conditions in the respective countries and limited trade and economic ties with Finland. The closures will be enacted through a presidential decree, according to an official government notice issued on November 29. The ministry emphasized that the move aims to concentrate Finland’s diplomatic resources in countries deemed strategically more significant. No immediate responses were reported from the governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Myanmar regarding Finland’s decision. The restructuring reflects Finland’s ongoing efforts to optimize its diplomatic presence globally amid evolving geopolitical and economic priorities.

Regarding the heated dispute between U.S. and Ukrainian Presidents at the White House, Finland’s President, Alex Stubb, stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the true winner of the conflict. Stubb believes that international leaders are now ready to move forward on a more constructive path after the tensions. He observed some changes in NATO under Donald Trump’s administration, describing it as “more transactional,” but also noted that NATO remains strong and alive. Additionally, Stubb praised the leadership of French President Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.