President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb and his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb visited the Åland Islands on Monday 25 August 2025.
In the morning, President Stubb delivered a keynote address at the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) in Mariehamn. The conference focused on three main themes: cooperation, security and sustainability in the Baltic Sea region.
The President stated that the Baltic Sea coastal states share many common interests, including navigation, trade, culture and a sensitive maritime area. However, as a result of Russia’s war of aggression, the security situation in the region has deteriorated.
The Finnish Model
According to President Stubb, the ‘Finnish Model’ has proven effective in countering hybrid threats. “Essentially, it involves a swift and decisive response, in accordance with international law, by competent and capable authorities“.
“Åland is unique as an autonomous, demilitarised, Swedish-speaking region of the Republic of Finland. The history and status of Åland are a prime example of how multilateral cooperation can produce successful and lasting solutions,” said the President.
The Act on the Autonomy of Åland
After the conference, President Stubb met with representatives of the Province of Åland. Topics discussed ranged from the reform of the Act on the Autonomy of Åland to matters related to preparedness and contingency planning. The discussions continued over lunch.
The visit concluded with a public event at Torget, the market square in Mariehamn. The President was interviewed by 18-year-olds Maximilian Dreyer and Nellie Manngård. In addition to the joint programme of the presidential couple, Mrs Suzanne Innes-Stubb, spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland, had a separate programme. Among other things, she visited the ‘Juha och havet’ exhibition at the Kobba Klintar pilot station.
