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Strengthening Ties and Forging Alliances: Chief of Finnish Defence Command visit to NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum [1]

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Date: 2023-07 

Brunssum, The Netherlands – On Wednesday, July 26, Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen, the Chief of Defence Command of the Republic of Finland, visited the Headquarters of NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS). The esteemed General Virtanen was warmly hosted by Lieutenant General Krzysztof Król, the Chief of Staff of JFCBS.

Finland's active involvement strengthens NATO's capacity to effectively counter all domains threats.

The visit marked the second consecutive representation of an important Finnish Armed Forces representative to JFCBS, following the Chief of Defence's visit in June after Finland's accession as the 31st NATO member state in April. During his visit, General Virtanen was provided with the opportunity to engage in a series of meetings with members of JFCBS staff.

Lieutenant General Krzysztof Król, Chief of Staff of JFCBS, expressed his appreciation for General Virtanen's visit, stating, "Effective information exchange and insights between our staffs are essential for bolstering interoperability and forging robust alliances. Finland's integration into NATO significantly strengthens our collective defence endeavours. General Virtanen's visit further solidifies our shared commitment to security throughout our area of responsibility."

During the visit, the discussions were robust and insightful. General Virtanen took the opportunity to share Finland's perspective on various security matters and expressed support for NATO's ongoing efforts to adapt and address emerging challenges.

Lieutenant General Virtanen remarked, that "it was an honour to visit JFC Brunssum and meet General Król and other colleagues. The visit was an excellent opportunity to share situational awareness and discuss topics such as the defence of the Baltic Sea and NATO´s northern regions. JFC Brunssum holds significant operational expertise at the whole alliance level, and Finland has strong competence in operating in the North. The discussions were extremely productive. Our interests are mutual, and the cooperation continues strong."

The timing of this visit was particularly significant, coming on the heels of the recent NATO Summit in Vilnius, which saw the Alliance reaffirm its commitment to preserving peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region. The decisions made during the summit have set a strong foundation for NATO's continued development and adaptation to contemporary threats.

Lieutenant General Krzysztof Król emphasized the importance of such exchanges, stating, "Mutual understanding and cooperation among NATO member states and partner nations are essential elements for achieving our collective objectives. Finland's active involvement strengthens NATO's capacity to effectively counter all domains threats."

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[1] Url: https://shape.nato.int/news-archive/2023/chief-of-finnish-defence-command-visits-joint-force-command-brunssum.aspx

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