Finland’s Foreign Minister Timo Soini is the leader of The Finns Party, a populist, euroskeptic party that surprised Europe’s establishment when it came into power two years ago. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Soini took a far more moderate stance than the firebrands of the anti-establishment movement sweeping across Europe and the U.S. He said he is convinced that once in office, President Donald Trump will revert to a more business-as-usual stance towards the European Union and free trade and that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Mr. Trump calls “obsolete” will not break up or retreat from Europe. Finland, as a non-NATO member, is counting on its army in case of an attack, but mostly on a “wise foreign policy” as its best defense, the minister said. On Brexit, Mr. Soini advocates for a “no-revenge” attitude from the EU, especially since the U.K. plays such an important role in Europe’s foreign and security policy.
Wall Street Journal: A Q&A with Finland’s foreign minister on Trump, Brexit and populism
Finland's Foreign Minister Timo Soini attends the Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Affairs in Bratislava, Slovakia on Sept. 2, 2016.
