Alexander Stubb Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Date of Birth: 01.04.1968 Country: Finland

1. Early Life and Education
2. Career in Diplomacy
3. Political Career
4. Minister of Foreign Affairs
5. President of Finland
6. Personal Life

Early Life and Education

Kalle-Gorann Alexander Stubb was born on April 1, 1968, in Helsinki, Finland. His father, Goran Stubb, was a former ice hockey player and head of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Stubb completed his schooling in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1986 and later attended Larkan Gymnasium in Helsinki.

In 1989, Stubb received a golf scholarship to Furman University in South Carolina. He initially pursued business but later switched to political science, graduating summa cum laude in 1993. He went on to earn a diplôme in history of civilization from the Sorbonne in 1994 and a master's degree in European internal affairs from the College of Europe in Bruges in 1995.

Career in Diplomacy

Stubb's career in diplomacy began as an advisor at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1995-1997). In 1997-1998, he conducted research at the Finnish Academy of Sciences. He obtained his PhD from the London School of Economics in 1999.

From 1999 to 2001, Stubb worked as a special researcher at the Finnish Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. He also participated in Finland's government delegation for the Nice Treaty intergovernmental negotiations. He became an EU College Professor in 2000.

Political Career

From 2001 to 2003, Stubb served as an advisor to European Commission President Romano Prodi and as a member of the special commission drafting the European Convention. In 2003, he returned to the Finnish Permanent Representation to the EU as a special expert and participant in the European Constitution intergovernmental negotiations.

In 2004, Stubb was elected to the European Parliament as a member of the center-right National Coalition Party. He served until 2008, becoming one of the most prominent and active MEPs.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

On April 1, 2008, Stubb was unanimously appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, succeeding Ilkka Kanerva. He also inherited the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which Finland held in 2008.

As Foreign Minister, Stubb supported Finland's membership in NATO. He played a key role in brokering a peace plan for the South Ossetia War in 2008. He criticized Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia but opposed sanctions.

President of Finland

In 2024, Stubb was elected President of Finland, becoming the country's first president from the National Coalition Party.

Personal Life

Stubb is married to Suzanne Innes-Stubb, a lawyer from England, and they have two children. He is fluent in Finnish, Swedish, English, German, and French.