Brunssum, The Netherlands – Tuesday 4 April 23, Finland became NATO’s newest member nation. NATO Ambassadors signed Finland’s Accession Protocol, at NATO Headquarters, on 5 July 22. Subsequently, all existing Alliance national parliaments were invited to ratify the country’s membership and that process is now complete.
Official flag-raising ceremonies have been conducted across the Alliance today, led by the Secretary General, who stated that this was the fastest ratification process in NATO's modern history.
At JFC Brunssum (JFCBS) the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Krzysztof KRÓL, presided over the flag-raising ceremony.
Before General KRÓL’s remarks, Finland’s national military representative at JFCBS, Colonel Torsti ARSTEN, underlined the tremendous importance of this moment to his country.
Commander JFC Brunssum, General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, stressed that security has been at the heart of transatlantic stability and prosperity for 74 years. Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty states that an attack on one member is an attack on all. The General continued:
“As of today, Finland will have the unwavering support of 30 NATO Allies. Finland is now part of the NATO family, a family of thirty-one nations and over one billion people. A family based on the certainty that, no matter what challenges we face, we are all stronger and safer together. Finland’s flag will fly proudly alongside those of the other 30 members. At JFC Brunssum, we are looking forward to working together with our Finnish colleagues as Allies.”
Welcome into the NATO family, Finland!