Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that the U.S. does not plan to leave NATO, as the alliance directly addresses Washington's strategic interests—from military bases in Europe to control over the Russian nuclear potential.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that discussions about a possible U.S. exit from NATO are unfounded.
Speaking at the Lithuanian-Finnish defense industry business forum in Vilnius, he emphasized that membership in the North Atlantic Alliance serves the key interests of the United States itself.
“United States does not plan to leave the alliance. The United States will continue to work in NATO,” Stubb said.
According to him, the U.S. needs Europe just as much as Europe needs American support.
The President of Finland specifically highlighted the importance of American military bases in Europe, calling them critically important for Washington's global military presence. He mentioned the Ramstein Air Base in Germany and other facilities through which the U.S. can project military power to the Middle East, Africa, and Asia as examples.
“If it weren’t for the bases in Europe, they wouldn’t be able to do what they are doing now in the Middle East,” Stubb noted.
In fact, the Finnish leader indicated that NATO for the U.S. is not only a matter of protecting Europe but also a tool for global influence.
Another key factor Stubb mentioned was the Russian nuclear arsenal. According to him, a significant portion of Russian nuclear weapons is concentrated on the Kola Peninsula and in the Murmansk area—near the Finnish border.
After Finland and Sweden joined NATO, Northern Europe became an even more important region for the alliance's strategy.
Stubb emphasized that Russian strategic weapons are primarily aimed not at the Baltic states or Northern Europe, but at major U.S. cities.
“They are aimed at New York, Washington, Miami, and Los Angeles,” said the President of Finland.
His remarks came amid ongoing discussions about the future of NATO and the role of the U.S. in European security following Donald Trump's return to the White House.
In recent months, concerns have grown in Europe regarding a possible reduction in American involvement in the security of the continent.
However, Stubb made it clear that, from Helsinki's perspective, Washington's fundamental interests make a U.S. exit from NATO extremely unlikely.
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