Finnish President in India: Stubb and Modi chart new horizons for bilateral cooperation

Finnish President Alexander Stubb began his four‑day official visit to India on 4 March , when he was warmly received in New Delhi with a ceremonial Guard of Honour and a personal welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi . Stubb arrived with a high-level delegation of ministers, officials, and business leaders , signaling a focused agenda on trade, technology, and strategic cooperation. During his arrival, it was announced that he would serve as the chief guest and keynote speaker at the 11th Raisina Dialogue 2026 , India’s flagship international conference on geopolitics and global strategy, taking place from 5–7 March .

On the second day of his visit, President Stubb and PM Modi held extensive bilateral talks at Hyderabad House , culminating in the elevation of India–Finland relations to a Strategic Partnership . Discussions covered a broad range of sectors from digitalisation, sustainability, and clean energy to quantum computing, semiconductors, defence, and space technologies with both leaders emphasising collaboration in high‑tech areas including AI and next-generation telecommunications like 6G .

In a joint press interaction , President Stubb reiterated Finland’s strong support for India’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council , calling it “of utmost importance” for global governance reforms. He also praised India’s diplomatic model, saying “We should all become a little bit more Indian,” highlighting the value of India’s pragmatic approach to foreign policy and global cooperation. PM Modi highlighted the shared commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful resolution of conflicts, citing ongoing crises in West Asia and Ukraine . He also noted that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement will further strengthen trade, investment, and technological cooperation with Finland.

The leaders underlined the depth of bilateral ties , referencing longstanding cooperation in infrastructure and industry, and the role of Finnish technology in sustainable development projects across India. President Stubb, as chief guest at the Raisina Dialogue today , will deliver a keynote address reaffirming Finland’s partnership in promoting global peace and multilateral cooperation. Following New Delhi engagements, Stubb will travel to Mumbai to meet business leaders before concluding his visit.