“If We Left Everything in the Hands of the Nordic Countries, We’d All be Okay,” Biden Tells Finland President. “We Don’t Start Wars,” His Reply (WATCH)

Biden met with Finland President Sauli Niinistö on Friday to strengthen bilateral relations and ensure strong defense in Northern Europe.

The White House released this statement:

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with President of Finland Sauli Niinistö to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and ensuring strong defense and deterrence in northern Europe. The leaders also discussed ongoing transatlantic coordination to impose costs on Russia for its unprovoked and unjustified military invasion of Ukraine, and their respective efforts to provide security and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The Presidents committed to start a process that would strengthen U.S.-Finnish security cooperation, which would be conducted in close consultation with other Nordic countries. The Presidents also discussed the importance of NATO’s Open Door policy. In addition, they discussed energy security and efforts to address climate change.

“Like my old boss Barack Obama used to say, if we left everything in the hands of the Nordic countries, we’d all be okay,” Biden commented.

Watch Sauli Niinistö’s reply:

Biden: Like my old boss Barack Obama used to say, if we left everything in the hands of the Nordic countries, we'd all be okay.

President of Finland: Well yeah, we don't start wars.

Biden: Okay that's a lid, goodnight everyone thanks for coming.

🤨😯😵https://t.co/Y2UgBRIIUg

— Conspiracy Mill (@conspiracymill) March 5, 2022

“Well, we don’t start wars.”

Biden’s rebuttal?

That’s a wrap everyone, thanks for coming!

Was Niinistö’s remark directed at Russia or a sly poke at Biden?

That’s for your interpretation.

But it appears Biden didn’t want Niinistö to elaborate and abruptly ended the meeting from that point.

Shoutout Finland President 🤣🙌🏾 https://t.co/CqudlJfHXt

— The Last One (@Ok_kev) March 5, 2022

Despite the comment, Finland is considering joining NATO.

Fox News reported:

Finland’s legislature is considering entreating membership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine intensifies, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told Fox News in a “Special Report” interview on Friday.

Niinisto, an Independent, was asked whether Finland wants to join the Brussels-headquartered alliance, given both the invasion and the fact his country shares a nearly 900-mile eastern border with Putin-controlled Russia.

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He responded that for the first time, Finland and neighbor Sweden are seriously considering such a move, citing domestic polling.

“This is something we are now open to discussion with our parliament. We [are] trying to define all the circumstances and the risks and all the benefits and are doing that quite efficiently and as soon as possible,’ he said.

Reuters added:

Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto said after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday that they agreed to step up their defense cooperation.

Niinisto, speaking to reporters, said Finland meets the criteria for NATO membership. Niinisto also said he and Biden spoke to Sweden’s prime minister during their meeting.

Here’s an additional YouTube clip from the meeting published by The White House: