Must avoid a global conflict, says Finnish President as he backs U.S. but voices concern on West Asia war

Finnish President Stubb urges caution to avoid global conflict, backing the U.S. while criticizing its actions in West Asia.

It is necessary to stop the West Asia war from spreading, emphasised Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who also voiced concerns on the U.S. sinking an Iranian ship in the Indian Ocean. Mr. Stubb, who is seen as a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump said that while European countries would side with America in the conflict, he did believe that the U.S. and Israel were acting “outside the framework of traditional international law” with their strikes on Iran that assassinated the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. On the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in Delhi where he was the chief guest, Mr. Stubb said the non-alignment policy suited a country of India’s size and geography. Excerpts:

Are you concerned that [the war in West Asia] could spread? After the attack by the U.S. on an Iranian ship in the Indian Ocean, are you concerned that this is now headed towards a world war, and do you see an end game?

I would argue, ever since Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, [conflicts] have become regional and we’ve seen that trend grow. Israel-Palestine, now Israel-U.S.-Iran, and then Iran versus the Gulf states. We should try to avoid to make this war into a global conflict, and use all de-escalatory means necessary at this stage. The less states are hit by this, the better. But the truth, of course, is that we can’t be ostriches and put our heads in the sand. The price of oil will have an impact. The closing of the Hormuz Strait will have an impact on global trade. We’re all affected by this, but now we just need to contain it.

Spain, France and today, Slovenia have very clearly condemned the US Israel attacks, which were the first strike in this war. Yet countries including Finland has not. Is Europe divided over what has happened?

No, I think it is as united as Europe is. I mean, it’s 27 states. Even on the war in Russia, we have disparate voices from, for instance, Hungary and partially Slovakia. So European foreign policy is never perfect. But if the question was, do we back America or Iran, I think the answer is very clear, we back America.

Despite the fact that U.S.-Israel cast the first strike?