Finland President’s Reminder To Trump On SCO: West Risks ‘Losing The Game’ To Global South

Last Updated:September 03, 2025, 16:07 IST

Finnish President Alexander Stubb warns the West risks losing influence to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation after the Tianjin summit.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and US President Donald Trump

Finnish President Alexander Stubb warned that the West, particularly the United States, risks “losing the game" to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) if it fails to recalibrate its approach towards the Global South. Alexander Stubb said, “My message to you, my European colleagues, and particularly to the US, is that if we don’t engage in a more cohesive and dignified foreign policy, especially with regard to Global South countries such as India, we will lose."

The remarks followed last week’s SCO summit in China’s Tianjin, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks alongside other leaders.

Finland’s President On SCO’s Rising Influence

Alexander Stubb called the gathering a “reminder of what is at stake" for the Western alliance as he said, “I think this meeting in China is a good reminder to the Global West of what is at stake. We are trying to preserve the remnants of the old order."

Read more: US Expert Warns Of India-China-Russia Alliance Amid Trump Tariffs: ‘Americans Can’t Compete’

The Finnish president said the SCO is actively working to “weaken Western unity" as the summit, the largest in the bloc’s history, drew 10 member states and 20 invited leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. At the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged members to “safeguard regional peace and stability" and to “pool the strength of the Global South."

Finland’s President Call With PM Modi

Alexander Stubb’s warning comes amid mounting friction between Washington and New Delhi after US President Donald Trump slapped a combined 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s continued purchases of discounted Russian crude oil. Donald Trump accused India of “fueling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine" and slammed the trade relationship between the two countries as a “one-sided disaster."

“What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us… In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest ‘client,’ but we sell them very little- a totally one-sided relationship and it has been for many decades," Donald Trump said.

Alexander Stubb, who is said to enjoy a personal rapport with Donald Trump forged during a marathon seven-hour golf session at the US president’s Florida resort earlier this year, also engaged with India last week. The Finnish President called PM Modi to discuss the Russia–Ukraine war and brief him on consultations in Washington between US, European and Ukrainian leaders.

Finland

News world Finland President’s Reminder To Trump On SCO: West Risks ‘Losing The Game’ To Global South

Read More