Statement by Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the signing of the Accession Protocol for Finland in the NATO Council

Statement by Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the signing of the Accession Protocol for Finland in the NATO Council in Brussels 5. July 2022.

Secretary-General, ladies and gentlemen

It is my honour to represent Finland today. The Madrid Summit made a historical decision to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of the Alliance.

Yesterday the accession talks were held between NATO and Finland. Today, I am pleased to see the signing of the accession protocol by all NATO allies.

We highly appreciate the support of the Alliance to the membership of Finland and look forward to a swift ratification process.

Over the past 30 years, Finland and NATO have had a long-standing and pragmatic partnership. Finland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme already in 1994. 

We have worked together towards a secure Europe. We have done this in close partnership and with a common commitment to enhancing Euro-Atlantic security. Cooperation has brought us closer together and ensured high interoperability.

Together we are stronger. The membership of both Finland and Sweden will not only contribute to our security, but to the collective security of the Alliance. 

Finland’s strong defence capability, civil preparedness and resilience will contribute to the strength of the Alliance. Finland has a long tradition of comprehensive approach to security, bringing together various sectors of society, also private sector, to collaborate in maintaining crisis preparedness and resilience. This makes our society resilient. 

I am convinced that Finland will contribute in making NATO even stronger – both politically and militarily. 

For decades, NATO has been a key actor in advancing European security and stability. A strong and unified NATO is our common security interest also in the future.

The strategic concept accepted at the Madrid Summit will pave the way for the future of the alliance. Further strengthening NATO’s defence and deterrence will increase security and stability in Europe. 

Our collective security requires a 360 degrees approach: From the Arctic to the South. Global security developments, including in the South, increasingly affect our security and call on us to enhance security in the neighborhood. Terrorism is a serious threat to us all.

Secretary-General, ladies and gentlemen,
We look forward to safeguarding a secure and prosperous Euro-Atlantic region together with our NATO allies.

Together we are stronger in defending the rules-based international order and the principles of democracy, freedom and rule of law.

Thank you.