(C) NATO This story was originally published by NATO and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . SHAPE welcomes its newest member - The Republic of Finland [1] [] Date: 2023-04 MONS, Belgium - Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) welcomed NATO’s newest member, the Republic of Finland, during a ceremonial flag raising on Tuesday, Apr. 4, 2023. The event to recognise Finland as the 31st nation to join the Alliance was complementary to ceremonies occurring at NATO headquarters in Brussels, at Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia, and other NATO commands and units across the Alliance. The SHAPE Chief of Staff, Admiral Joachim Rühle, presided over the ceremony and celebrated the evolution of NATO’s relationship with Finland. The membership in NATO opens a new era for the Finnish Defence Forces "NATO and Finland share common values, and Finland’s accession into NATO is the welcomed progression of a decades-long intensive and productive relationship,” said Rühle. “For years, we have very successfully and harmoniously worked side-by-side on operations and exercises, and have exchanged thoughts and best-practices. These past years we’ve stood together as partners, but from today forward, we stand closer as Allies.” Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe welcomed NATO’s newest member, the Republic of Finland, during a ceremonial flag raising at the front of the headquarters on Tuesday, Apr. 4, 2023. - Photos by SHAPE Public Affairs Office The Finnish National Military Representative to SHAPE, Colonel Petteri Kajanmaa, also offered remarks, expressing Finland’s commitment to the Alliance. “The membership in NATO opens a new era for the Finnish Defence Forces,” said Kajanmaa. “Finland respects all obligations and responsibilities that come with the accession to NATO. We are fully committed to the security of each and every Ally. We will make NATO stronger.” “The membership in NATO opens a new era for the Finnish Defence Forces,” said Kajanmaa. “Finland respects all obligations and responsibilities that come with the accession to NATO. We are fully committed to the security of each and every Ally. We will make NATO stronger.” The process of accession into NATO is a complex and well-planned initiative that requires approval from all Allied nations. Finland submitted their official letter of application on May 18, 2022, and were officially invited to join the Alliance by NATO Heads of State and Government at the Madrid Summit on Jun. 29, 2022. Finland joins the Alliance after the fastest accession in NATO’s modern history. You can watch the entire ceremony on SHAPE's YouTube channel here. [END] --- [1] Url: https://shape.nato.int/news-archive/2023/shape-welcomes-its-newest-member-the-republic-of-finland.aspx Published and (C) by NATO Content appears here under this condition or license: in acordance with "Requirements for the external use of NATO content.". via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/nato/