According to Niinistö, the threat of war between Russia and NATO has not increased.
President Sauli Niinistö says Yleisradion on Sunday during question time, that Finland should switch to reciprocity when granting dual citizenships. It would mean that Finland would grant dual citizenships only to those coming from countries whose countries grant dual citizenship to those who came there from Finland.
The president said he already had this opinion in 2013. The policy would only apply to new dual citizenships, Niinistö emphasized in the broadcast, where he answered questions sent by citizens.
“Of course, I didn't think at the time that it would somehow be retroactive so that those who have already received dual citizenship would lose it. Citizenship and its loss have been considered quite sacred in international law and in the legal system of Finland as well.”
In the case of dual citizenships, Russia, which does not grant them, has come up in the discussion in particular.
The dual citizenship of Russians has also come to the fore in connection with the upcoming presidential elections.
Niinistö also took a stand on closing the eastern border and said he supports the government's decisions on closing the border.
“I will continue to support the idea, as I said in early autumn, that Finland should take care of its security.”
Niinistö drew attention to the fact that the asylum seekers who came across the border all know that they are pawns who know that they are coming to Finland against Finland's will. Some of them may also owe a debt of gratitude, Niinistö pointed out, referring to the suspicions expressed by the protection police.
“The protection police have brought to the public mild doubts that the newcomer may have a debt of gratitude to Russia. Then we are in a special situation, that we politely receive newcomers who themselves know that they are acting against the interests of Finland.”
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“Finland must take care of its security.”
Citizens the questions covered a wide range of security policy topics, such as the war in Ukraine, NATO and the situation in the Middle East. Niinistö also commented on Yle's broadcast as well gas company Novatek's natural gas terminal fire that the situation caused by drone strikes in general. Niinistö estimates that possible drone attacks do not threaten Finland.
Niinistö did not consider the threat of a war between Russia and NATO to be greater than before, even though NATO's large Steadfast Defender exercise has provoked accusations of provocation from Russia.
According to the president, despite the threatening images, there are no visible signs that Western countries are abandoning Ukraine or getting tired of supporting Ukraine. Rather, the problem is that Europe should fix the production of war material and ammunition in order to have the ability to support Ukraine sufficiently.
Niinistö calmed fears about what would happen to Ukraine Donald Trump's returning to the presidency of the United States. In any case, Europe must show the United States that it is capable of taking its own responsibility. Trump's speeches were great, but his actions were often almost the opposite, Niinistö reminded.
“At the time, it was feared that he would leave Europe to its own devices and leave NATO. And he spoke a bit threateningly, but the fact is that NATO became stronger in Europe. US participation in NATO strengthened during his time. So it's not worth slamming the covers of the book before it opens.”
Niinistö added that it is not Europe's business to choose the president of the United States.
“If we now start strongly criticizing the candidate, it may be that he will not forget it. People are people.”
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Niinistö did not promise to start writing the memoirs.
Niinistö said that among the world leaders he met, he felt that he got to know Trump very quickly and that he also learned to understand him. The same applies to the current president of the United States Joe Biden and the leader of China Xi Jinping.
“[Venäjän presidentti Vladimir] Putin's I met often and I think I know him to some extent.”
The most confusing meeting, however, was with Iran's religious leader Ali Khamenei.
“I didn't get any kind of human-individual contact with him, so to speak. And that's quite an exception,” Niinistö said.
Sunday question hour on Yle's broadcast was Niinistö's thirteenth and at the same time his last. According to Niinistö, the most important skill of the president is knowing and valuing people. He jokes that the presidency has at least changed his hair color.
The time after leaving office now seems quite free.
“The calendar is completely empty and as far as it depends on me, it will stay. I've been thinking about a life where when you wake up in the morning, you're left wondering what nice thing to do today. It's a good principle.”
Niinistö did not promise to start writing the memoirs.
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