Niinistö warns Europe must shoulder its own security as US reliance wanes
President Sauli Niinistö told a book-fair audience that Europe can no longer count on the United States for its security and must take greater responsibility itself.
Speaking at the Helsinki book fair, Sauli Niinistö warned that the era of relying on the United States for European security is over. He reflected on Finland’s NATO accession, intended to boost safety, and expressed concern that worldwide security conditions are worsening. Niinistö described Donald Trump’s “antipathy” toward Europe and cited recent accusations against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi over diesel prices as examples of U.S. unreliability.
He argued that Europe must increase its own defence burden, noting that while the United States remains a democratic ally, its support can no longer be taken for granted. Niinistö highlighted growing Arctic importance and new cooperation among the Nordic states and the United Kingdom through the Joint Expeditionary Force, calling it a potential “lifebuoy” for Europe. He also mentioned Vladimir Putin’s statements linking the Ukraine war to broader European security architecture, suggesting that economic incentives might influence peace talks but doubting Putin will compromise without meeting his goals.
Why it matters
It signals a shift in European defence thinking, urging more self-reliance amid uncertain U.S. support.
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