The most influential legislator in the US Congress visited Finland on Tuesday. Speaker of the House John Boehner remarked that the United States has always valued its relationship with Finland.
“Finland's been a great ally and friend to the United States. We care about our relationship. Clearly, the events going on in Europe are of interest to us and we are certainly interested in your perspective. We are looking forward to strengthening our relationship,” Boehner said from the Presidential Palace, where he met with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.
Niinistö, for his part, commented that the importance of enhancing transatlantic relationships has grown over the past year.
Boehner and Niinistö discussed the on-going situations in Ukraine and Greece and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States.
After his morning meeting with President Niinistö, Boehner met with Finland’s Foreign Minister Timo Soini. This was followed by a meeting in the afternoon with Finland’s Parliamentary Speaker Maria Lohela. The exchange focused on current topics in foreign and security policy.
Republican leader John Boehner has been the Speaker of the House in the US since January 2011. He is third in the chain of command when it comes to leading the country, after the president and vice-president.
Boehner maintains a hard line when it comes to the Ukrainian crisis. Last March he joined six other Republicans and three Democrats in penning a letter to President Barack Obama that demanded the US extend military aid to the Ukrainian government if necessary.
Boehner was joined on his trip to Finland by seven other members of the House of Representatives, six Republicans and one Democrat. The group is also scheduled to visit the Baltic countries during their trip.