Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has reaffirmed that the Nordic country has no immediate plans to formally recognise the State of Palestine, despite mounting international pressure and shifting dynamics within the European Union.
Speaking during an official visit to France on Monday, Valtonen told Finnish broadcaster Yle that Helsinki continues to monitor international developments but has not initiated any policy shift. Her comments come in the wake of France’s announcement that it will officially recognise Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in September a move expected to influence other EU member states.
“We are, of course, cooperating with the international community and, crucially, with our most important peer countries,” Valtonen stated. However, she stressed that “each state makes its own sovereign decisions,” noting that Finland is in “active dialogue” with countries such as Denmark and the United Kingdom regarding the issue.
Valtonen recently held talks with her French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, but declined to confirm whether France had urged Finland to take a stronger position. “Jean-Noël and I speak almost daily. It doesn’t require intense lobbying it’s more about exchanging information and perspectives,” she noted.
Humanitarian Concerns in Gaza
Valtonen acknowledged the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has intensified calls for diplomatic recognition of Palestine across Europe. “We’re witnessing famine and immense human suffering. The international community and the EU have a duty to do everything they can to alleviate this suffering,” she said.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Valtonen reiterated that Finland’s foreign policy decisions including recognition of new states are constitutionally led by the president in collaboration with the government. “At this stage, there hasn’t been a need to update our official position,” she affirmed.
Political Pressure at Home
Back in Finland, domestic political momentum behind recognition is gaining strength. A recent survey conducted by Yle revealed that a majority of parliamentary parties support recognising Palestinian statehood. The Social Democratic Party, Left Alliance, Greens, and Movement Now have all called for immediate action.
Valtonen’s own National Coalition Party and the Swedish People’s Party also support recognition in principle but advocate for a cautious, multilateral approach. In contrast, the Finns Party and Christian Democrats continue to oppose the move outright.
The divergence within Finland’s governing coalition has made a swift policy shift unlikely, despite growing public and parliamentary interest. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has not outlined any timeline for reconsidering its position, nor have any formal legislative steps been initiated.
Finland’s Two-State Commitment
Valtonen underscored Finland’s long-standing commitment to a two-state solution as the only viable pathway to lasting peace in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. “This remains the guiding principle of Finnish diplomacy,” she said.
While other European states prepare for bold declarations in the months ahead, Finland appears set to remain on a watchful but restrained course keeping its options open while deferring to internal consensus and alignment with key allies.
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