Kanzler-Reisen: From Greenland to Finland: Merz at the Nordic summit

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) travels to Finland today to take part in the summit of the Nordic countries. The main aim is to defend the NATO alliance area in view of the growing threat from Russia and economic cooperation. Merz will take part in a dinner (6 p.m.) with the heads of government on a medieval castle in the coastal metropolis of Turku in the southwest of Finland.

Usually Finland would not be at the top of the travel list of a new Chancellor. However, the Nordic summit offers him the opportunity to get to know the heads of government of five NATO partners at the same time: Norway, Denmark and Iceland have been a member of the defense alliance for a long time. Finland and Sweden joined the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

1,340 kilometers border with Russia

The growing threat from Russia is likely to be the main topic of talks in Turku. She is particularly present for Finland. The country has a 1,340 km long border with Russia. A few days ago, there were media reports on upgrading the Russian armed forces near the border. The Swedish radio broadcaster SVT had evaluated satellite images to show the new warehouses, a large tent camp at a military base and the reactivation of an air force base.

Loyal supporters of Ukraine

The staggering efforts to end the Russian attack war against Ukraine are also likely to be an issue. The northern countries are among the most loyal supporters in Ukraine. The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj is extremely good with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Denmark was also one of the first countries available to Ukraine F-16 fighter jets. The Nordic states often vote on Ukraine support with the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Trump’s Greenland claims

The heads of government of the autonomous regions of Greenland, Färöer (both Denmark) and Aland (Finland) also take part in the summit. The debate about the Greenland claims of US President Donald Trump has recently cooled down a bit. However, nothing has changed in the intention of wanting to bring the largest island in the Earth under control of the United States for reasons of national or international security. That could also be a topic at the summit.

Tips from Stubb for meetings with Trump

Merz stays in Finland overnight and will have bilateral conversations there on Tuesday with the Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and President Alexander Stubb. The meeting with the head of state in his summer residence could be particularly interesting for the chancellor. Stubb is one of the few European heads of state and government who get along really well with Trump. He has even visited the US President for a round of Golf on his estate Mar-A-Lago in Florida and could give Merz tips for his upcoming visit to Trump in the White House.