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President Niinistö's Two-Track Initiative: Towards Stronger Arctic

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President Niinistö's Two-Track Initiative: Towards Stronger Arctic FIIA APRIL 2021 COMMENT 6 Matti Pesu, Senior Research Fellow, FIIA Henri Vanhanen, Research Fellow, FIIA PRESIDENT NIINISTÖ’S TWO-TRACK INITIATIVE TOWARDS STRONGER ARCTIC DIALOGUE AND REVITALIZATION OF THE HELSINKI SPIRIT? In his recent op-ed, President Sauli Niinist reintroduced the idea of an Arctic summit. Te timing of the meeting could be favourable. As the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act is approaching, Niinist also hoped for a revitalization of the “Spirit of Helsinki”. Te aim is hampered by global tensions, however. In late March, President of Finland governance. Second, he pointed to Finland actually ofered to host Sauli Niinist published an op-ed a potential summit of the perma- a summit during its Arctic Council in Helsingin Sanomat, the largest nent members of the United Na- presidency in 2017–2019. Tis am- Finnish daily. Te piece, outlining tions Security Council as a promis- bition was hampered by the wider future objectives for Finnish for- ing cooperative platform. However, tensions between Russia and the eign policy, expressed concern over his remarks on Arctic cooperation United States. negative trends in great-power and the anniversary of the Confer- The Biden presidency now politics, regretting the lack of seri- ence on Security and Cooperation presents an opportunity for the ous dialogue among major powers. in Europe (CSCE) attracted most at- high-level meeting. Climate change Niinist’s worries were unsurpris- tention. From a Finnish viewpoint, features high on Biden’s foreign ing, as advocating international di- these two initiatives are indeed policy agenda, and a large part of alogue has been a lodestar of Finn- prominent, as Helsinki could have his voters expect him to address ish foreign policy in recent years. a role to play in the processes. climate change in a serious manner. In his writing, the President Niinist is a well-known advo- Moreover, the US could be paid attention to four multilater- cate for Arctic cooperation. In the ready for military dialogue re- al initiatives that could buttress op-ed, he resurrected the idea of an garding the High North. As the US global stability. First, according to Arctic summit, which could focus strategic focus is increasingly on Niinist, the Paris Climate Treaty on climate issues, for example. He the Indo-Pacifc region, managing with its follow-up process repre- also wrote that a military build-up the stability of the European the- sents a functioning model of global in the region should be managed. atre, including the Artic region, is C FINNISH INSTITUTE - OF INTERNATIONAL -IL AFFAIRS FIIA COMMENT APRIL 2021 I 6 becoming increasingly important erosion of the “Spirit of Helsinki”. development in sight. On the con- to Washington. A stable Europe is Indeed, the Helsinki summit not trary, Russia’s ongoing military a critical precondition for devoting only consolidated détente but also buildup near Ukraine’s eastern bor- more resources to tackling the se- eventually strengthened democracy der and in Crimea casts additional curity challenges in Asia. and human rights in Europe. Today, dark clouds over European security. Russia, too, could have an in- global tensions and instability are An OSCE summit would re- terest in serious Arctic dialogue. growing, and democratic backslid- quire a genuine political process Te region is economically vital for ing is witnessed across the globe. serving the interests of all stake- Russia, and the realization of its full The anniversary presents an holders. Such a task will be fraught economic potential necessitates a opportunity to remind the inter- with challenges, and preparations stable environment. Furthermore, national community of the legacy should be initiated immediately. as China’s Arctic ambitions are on of the Helsinki Spirit. More im- However, the revitalization of the rise, both Moscow and Washing- portantly, the Organization for Se- the Spirit of Helsinki does not have ton, as well as other Arctic nations, curity and Cooperation in Europe to take place in the OSCE format. may want to demonstrate to Beijing (OSCE), which is built on the foun- Due to factions within the organ- who the actual Arctic players are – dation of the Helsinki Final Act, ization, arranging a gathering out- despite China’s central role in Arctic expects Finland – a key architect of side of the OSCE framework could climate matters. Te summit would the CSCE/OSCE system – to play a be a more realistic alternative. Tat serve such a purpose well. major role in the commemoration said, amid international tensions, Russia will take over the Arctic of the 1975 summit. it will be a considerable challenge Council presidency in May 2021. The details of the exercise are to come up with an agenda uniting Even if the potential meeting does currently unclear. OSCE summits the countries from “Vancouver to not take place in the Council’s have been held infrequently. The Vladivostok”. framework, Moscow may offer to most recent meeting convened 1975 marked an undeniable host the summit. If Russia’s initia- in Astana in 2010. Subsequent- milestone in Finnish foreign policy, tive is not echoed among its fellow ly, tensions in European security and its legacy should be duly pre- Arctic nations, a window of oppor- have increased. Russia has violated served. Te level of ambition should tunity might open for Finland. Tat OSCE principles by illegally annex- be high despite the demanding in- said, the future of the meeting is not ing Crimea and by starting a war in ternational milieu. Te fates of the in Finland’s hands. eastern Ukraine. An OSCE summit Arctic summit and commemoration In addition to Arctic coopera- without meaningful progress with of the Spirit of Helsinki hinge on the tion, the President brought up the regard to the conflict – which re- forthcoming developments in inter- approaching 50th anniversary of mains the most burning problem in national politics. If tensions remain the CSCE. More specifcally, Niinist European security – seems unlike- manageable, Finland’s activity may expressed his concern over the ly. Currently, there is little positive lead to tangible results. I Arkadiankatu 23 b The Finnish Institute of International Affairs is an independent research institute that POB 425 / 00101 Helsinki produces high-level research to support political decisionmaking as well as scientific and public C Telephone +358 10)9 432 7000 FINNISH debate both nationally and internationally. INSTITUTE Fax +358 [0)9 432 7799 All manuscripts are reviewed by at least two other experts in the field to ensure the high - OF INTERNATIONAL quality of the publications. In addition, publications undergo professional language checking -II. AFFAIRS www.fiia.fi and editing. The responsibility for the views expressed ultimately rests with the authors..
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