Exclusive interview: President of Finland 🇫🇮

Guest: President of Finland, https://app.warera.io/user/69bced00e01eb035977d0e20

As part of our ongoing series of interviews with representatives of other nations, we had the opportunity to speak with the President of https://app.warera.io/country/6813b6d446e731854c7ac80b about Finland's current position, diplomatic priorities, relations with Serbia, and his experience in leading the nation. Below is what he shared with us.

How would you describe Finland's current position in the international community, and what are your main priorities as a leader?

🇫🇮 President:

Our current position is somewhat interesting, as we're close to big, strong, old countries that belong to the enemy bloc, so there's a lot of balancing involved. Still, I like to think we have fairly okay relations even with our enemies. We don't have much presence outside of Europe, so I can't say how we're seen there, but within our alliance and its allies, we have a lot of good relationships.

Right now, my main priorities are keeping our newly reclaimed cores and improving player retention. Since it’s currently summer, many people are spending time at their cottages and enjoying Finland’s short summer, which makes it harder to keep players active. I mostly focus on war efforts and daily coordination of the country, so I'm not that well versed in politics outside our alliance, and I trust my government on that part.

What principles guide Finland when building diplomatic relationships, and what makes an alliance strong, stable, and based on mutual trust?

🇫🇮 President:

Our main principle is to try a political approach first, as we rarely start shooting unless someone shoots at us first. Alliance politics can be a bit harder, since we're just one voice among many, and a lot of older nations have long histories with each other. Our alliance has a lot of great, skilled players, everyone can voice their opinions on different topics and actually be heard, and every country in the alliance is treated as equal, helping one another out.

Do you think this system is better than it used to be for alliances? And how does Finland try to maintain unity and stability during difficult periods?

🇫🇮 President:

In my opinion, this is a better system, as alliances actually mean something now. In the past, you'd ally with someone just for a damage boost and break it off the moment you didn't need it anymore.

We haven't faced any major internal challenges since our "baby boom" back in March, which was quite exhausting for the government at the time. We try to communicate openly with our citizens, which really helps with stability, and having common goals keeps people together.

Have you had the opportunity to communicate with Serbian representatives or observe Serbian diplomacy in the game? If so, how would you describe that communication? Was it professional, constructive, and solution focused?

🇫🇮 President:

I don't recall talking directly with Serbia outside of alliance politics. What I have seen of the communication has been respectful and constructive, and you seem to have a lot of knowledgeable players who know what they're doing.

What would you identify as the biggest strengths of Serbian diplomacy, and is there anything Finland feels could be improved in our bilateral relations?

🇫🇮 President:

I can't give a concrete answer since I haven't seen a lot of it firsthand, but I'd say your passion for the game and respect toward others definitely stand out as a plus.

What should both nations focus on to further strengthen the relationship between Serbia and Finland?

🇫🇮 President:

That's actually a hard question, since we haven't had much bilateral diplomacy, but I'd like to think we have good relations overall, as we've been fighting alongside each other at the alliance level for a long time now. Like with any relationship, it takes upkeep, so continuing to cooperate wherever we can, and keeping the conversation open, is key.

How do you see Finland's role developing in the future, and what kind of international reputation would you like your country to have? Also, what is your impression of Serbia in real life?

🇫🇮 President:

I see our role and purpose as being a stabilizing force in Northern Europe. Much like in real life politics, most of our players are in favor of the Nordic countries and would love to see a united Nordic region someday, even though that's a long and difficult goal. As for reputation, we aspire to be trustworthy and dependable, both for our allies and for anyone who needs our help.

The President also recommended an article written by Finland's former President, saying that it still reflects the country's values and vision today: https://app.warera.io/article/69f5d44b2d9dcc316a76667a

I don't know much about Serbia in real life, but I'd love to visit someday.

Why did you choose to become President of Finland in the first place?

🇫🇮 President:

Our previous president wanted to step back, since being president is a lot of work, and as I was vice president at the time, it felt like a natural next step to run for the position.

Has the role ever felt overwhelming for you?

🇫🇮 President:

Sometimes. The war effort during the liberation war was a lot of work, but things have slowed down a bit since then.

Have you made any real friendships through the game? And what is the biggest lesson you've learned while leading Finland?

🇫🇮 President:

I consider the people I talk to a lot in the game as friends, even though I haven't met anyone outside of it yet.

The biggest lesson has been the importance of communication. When people's concerns are heard and they understand what we're doing and why, it usually helps a lot. The game itself moves slowly, and even though a lot happens behind the scenes, regular citizens often don't see it right away. Community management is the most important thing you can do, as it's what keeps players coming back day after day.

A big Thank You to the President of Finland for his time and thoughtful answers throughout this conversation. We hope this is just the beginning of further cooperation and open communication between our nations. 🍀

Stay tuned for more exclusive interviews with world leaders, coming soon.

Interview conducted by: https://app.warera.io/user/6a242427daafad41f08e5a88