How Golfing With Trump Sharpens U.S.-EU Ties | WSJ

Geopolitical Strategy & Diplomacy - Finland's President Stubb has become a key European confidant for President Trump, facilitating communication between Trump and European allies [1][5][9] - Stubb played golf with Trump, using the personal connection to discuss NATO and Russia's war in Ukraine, highlighting the importance of personal relationships in diplomacy [4][5][6] - Stubb communicates European perspectives to Trump and vice versa, acting as a mediator between Zelensky and Trump, though the situation changes weekly [9] - Stubb advised Trump not to trust Putin, echoing the sentiment of many European colleagues, and believes Trump initially gave Putin a fair chance [9][10] - Trump's stance on Putin and the war in Ukraine has toughened, possibly influenced by the ongoing conflict and civilian casualties [11][12] NATO & European Security - Finland's decision to join NATO, doubling the alliance's border with Russia, was driven by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine [3] - European countries are increasingly recognizing the need to take more responsibility for their own defense [14] - Trump's pressure has contributed to a shift in NATO, with the potential for increased defense spending targets [14] Arctic Strategy & Trade - Trump is leveraging his relationship with Finland to negotiate the purchase of icebreakers, essential for opening new trade routes and projecting military power in the Arctic [15][16] - Finland is a leader in icebreaker design and construction, possessing expertise that the US currently lacks [16]