Joining Nato was ‘final step’ into Western community, new Finnish president says

The new president of Finland Alexander Stubb, centre left, and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb, left, with outgoing president Sauli Niinisto and his wife Jenni Haukio at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland (Emmi Korhonen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Alexander Stubb has been sworn as Finland’s new president and said that the Nordic country “is facing a new era” after becoming a Nato member — something he will demonstrate by making his first foreign trip to inspect the military alliance’s drill in neighbouring Norway’s Arctic region.

The 12-day Nato exercise is called Nordic Response and begins on Sunday. Mr Stubb has said that he will go for one day, on March 7.