Finland condemns Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza, President Alexander Stubb said at a press conference in Riga, Latvia, on Tuesday evening. According to Stubb, the attack violates international law and norms.
According to Stubb, the international community has failed to control and combat the situation.
The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday morning that it has launched an attack on Gaza City. Israel says it is targetting positions of the terrorist organisation Hamas.
Stubb is on a two-day working visit to Latvia with his wife, Suzanne Innes-Stubb. He has generally been more forthright in condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza than the government, which has dithered over the issue due to sharp disagreements among the four governing parties.
For example, in July, Stubb said that he would be ready to approve a government proposal to recognise Palestinian statehood — if such a proposal were presented to him. Under the Finnish constitution, the president oversees foreign policy in co-operation with the government.
“We must expect the unexpected” from Russia
On Tuesday, he held talks with Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs at Riga Castle. The presidents discussed the security situation in Europe, Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and the Middle East situation, among other topics.
At the press conference, the presidents were asked about recent airspace violations Russian drones over Poland.
Stubb reiterated that it “highly unlikely” that last week’s incursions were accidental, adding that Russia will continue to test the West in one way or another.
“We must expect the unexpected,” he said.
Rinkēvičs said that Nato countries must improve their mechanisms for combatting drones. Stubb predicted that cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries will be further strengthened in the future. All three Baltic states and all five Nordic states are now Nato members.
During a speech at the state dinner at Riga Castle on Tuesday evening, he noted that he and Rinkēvičs formed a personal friendship when they served as foreign ministers at the same time in 2008–2011. On Sunday, they attended a basketball game between the two countries together. Stubb also visited the Latvian Occupation Museum, Riga Stradiņš University, where he met with Finnish medical students, and the city of Liepāja.
