Today, all across NATO, the Finnish flag was raised as Finland became the 31st member of the Alliance on its 74th Anniversary.
To mark the occasion at the JALLC, Her Excellency, Ms Satu Suikkari-Kleven, the Finnish Ambassador to Portugal, was joined by representatives from the Finnish embassy, and the Portuguese Minister of National Defence, the honourable Ms Helena Carreiras, during a ceremony to place the Finnish flag among the flags of the other NATO Nations in the JALLC’s lobby.
After the JALLC’s Commander, Commodore Fernando Artilheiro, presented the Finnish flag to Ambassador Suikkari-Kleven, welcoming Finland to the Alliance he noted that Finland becoming a full member of NATO will make us all Stronger Together. The Minister also warmly welcomed Finland to NATO on behalf of Portugal, echoing the words of the Commander and noting that Finland’s accession increases all of our security. The Ambassador, thanking the Minister and the Commander for their kind words and the opportunity to make this special day for Finland, special in Portugal, highlighted the importance of NATO in the context of global peace and stability. The JALLC’s Commander then invited Ambassador Suikkari-Kleven to sign the JALLC’s book of honour as the first Finnish Ambassador to do so.
Following the accession ceremony, Minister Carreiras was briefed by key staff on the JALLC’s current activities and role in NATO. Finally, the Minister joined staff to celebrate NATO’s 74th anniversary, raising a toast to the success of the Alliance in the past and to its future, with Finland.
The JALLC, would like to extend a warm welcome to Finland as a NATO Nation and looks forward to working even more closely with our Finnish counterparts in the future. And to NATO, the Allies, and all the people around the world that work together in our great Alliance, we wish NATO a very Happy Birthday.