President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb attended the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, from Saturday 22 to 23 Sunday November 2025.
President Stubb delivered two speeches during the summit. In his address on Saturday, he pointed out the importance of a rules-based system and multilateral cooperation in a changing world. In the President’s view, a world order based on transactionalism creates conflicts rather than solutions.
“We need a multilateral system, common rules and international institutions more than ever. We must also be prepared to make the global system more equitable so that everyone continues to feel that they are part of it,” the President said.
In a speech on Sunday, President Stubb emphasized the importance of global cooperation in shaping the new world. He stressed that cooperation is vital in areas such as information networks and critical minerals. The President also highlighted Finland’s role as a provider of advanced technologies that foster cooperation and support the development of societies.
In addition to the plenary session, the President held several bilateral meetings. Among others, he met with Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the G20.
“South Africa is a key player in the global arena and a strong supporter of multilateralism,” President Stubb said after their meeting.
President Stubb also met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Nigerian Vice President Khasim Shettiman, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. In the margins of the G20 Summit, President Stubb participated in a meeting on Ukraine, which was attended by European leaders, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The G20 is an intergovernmental forum consisting of 19 countries along with representatives from the African Union and the European Union. This was the first time that a Finnish president attended a G20 summit. The invitation was extended to him by President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa.
