External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday, 11 June met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on the sidelines of the Kultaranta Talks in Helsinki, holding wide-ranging discussions on the evolving global geopolitical situation and the deepening India-Finland Strategic Partnership.

Key Discussions with President Stubb

“Pleased to meet President Alexander Stubb of Finland on the sidelines of the Kultaranta Talks,” Jaishankar posted on X. Both leaders exchanged views on the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape and underscored the indispensable role of diplomacy in navigating an increasingly uncertain global environment.

Jaishankar reaffirmed that India and Finland remain committed to advancing their Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability, while strengthening coordination in multilateral forums on issues of shared interest.

Panel on Emerging Powers and Geopolitical Competition

Jaishankar also participated in a high-level panel discussion on ‘Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition’ alongside Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Lana Nusseibeh. The session examined how middle and emerging powers are repositioning themselves amid intensifying great-power rivalry.

During the discussion, Jaishankar noted that ongoing conflicts are imposing costs and triggering changes far beyond their immediate regions. He stressed that the international community must continue efforts to mitigate these consequences and create conditions conducive to diplomacy.

India’s Energy Policy and Supply Chain Priorities

The EAM reiterated that India’s energy choices are guided by national interest, with purchases determined by considerations of affordability and availability. He also emphasised the importance of de-risking and diversifying supply chains to build greater resilience in a volatile global environment.

Jaishankar highlighted the centrality of India’s relations with the Gulf region, underpinned by strong people-to-people ties, energy cooperation, and a growing strategic and defence partnership.

India-EU Ties and Defence Cooperation

Jaishankar pointed to the rapidly evolving character of warfare, with new technologies, weapons, and tactics coexisting alongside traditional forms of conflict — an environment he said opens fresh avenues for India-EU defence and strategic cooperation.

He noted that India and the European Union have, in the current year alone, concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed a Strategic and Defence Partnership, and finalised a Comprehensive Mobility Cooperation Framework — milestones that reflect the growing depth of the bilateral relationship.

Meeting with UAE Minister Nusseibeh

On the margins of the same forum, Jaishankar held a separate bilateral with UAE Minister of State Nusseibeh, during which both sides “took stock of the advancements in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” and “exchanged notes on regional issues of mutual interest,” according to the EAM. The meeting underscores India’s active diplomatic outreach across both European and Gulf corridors in a single engagement.

As global power dynamics continue to shift, Jaishankar’s Helsinki engagements signal India’s intent to position itself as a key voice in shaping the emerging multilateral order.