Deposition of Finland's instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty

  • 04 Apr. 2023 -
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  • Last updated: 04 Apr. 2023 15:52

(As delivered)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

Secretary Blinken, Minister Haavisto, it is a pleasure to welcome you both here today, because this is an historic day. Soon we will be welcoming Finland as the 31st member of our Alliance, and we will raise the Finnish flag outside of this building. But before we do that, there are some formalities that we have to ensure are done in the right and proper way, so Secretary Blinken please hold the floor.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken
Well, Secretary General, Mr. Minister, I am delighted to report that - just a few moments ago - that Turkiye deposited with me, on behalf of the United States, Turkiye’s ratification of the instrument of acceding to the protocol for Finland’s accession to NATO. And with the receipt and submission of that protocol, I can say that the protocol is now in force.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
Thank you so much. This is great news, Secretary Blinken. And with that, I can actually then hand over to you, Minister Haavisto, the formal invitation on behalf of all Allies, for the Republic of Finland to accede to the North Atlantic Treaty. So, please.

Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto
Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
And then at the same time I also invite you to deposit your documents of accession to the US Government, here represented by Secretary Blinken.

Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto
Thank you, Mr. Secretary General, thank you Secretary Blinken. Now that I’ve got this invitation, it is my great pleasure to deposit with the Secretary of State of the United States of America Finland’s instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty. Please, Secretary Blinken.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken
Thank you very much. Well, with receipt of this instrument of accession, we can now declare that Finland is the 31st member of the North Atlantic Treaty.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
Congratulations!

Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto
And since we are now a member of NATO we have a very important task, and the task is actually to give to you for the deposit also our ratification for Swedish membership. This is our first act as member state.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken
I am delighted, delighted to receive this on behalf of Finland. Thank you.

Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto
Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
And then we welcome Finland to the Alliance, and we also appreciate that you have agreed also to invite Sweden. So, this ends this moment and then we will continue outside the building in just a moment. So, thank you so much.