NATO Secretary General with the President of Finland 🇫🇮 Alexander Stubb, 08 OCT 2024

Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, 8 October 2024.

🗣 | NATO Secretary General:

President Stubb, dear Alex,

It’s great to welcome you here at NATO Headquarters.

And you are the first Allied leader I have the honour to welcome here as NATO Secretary General.

It’s further proof of Finland's seamless integration into the NATO family.

Since Finland became a NATO Ally eighteen months ago, the Alliance has become stronger and Finland has become safer.

Finland has highly-capable military forces and cutting-edge capabilities.

You are investing more than 2% of GDP in defence.

I welcome that you will host a new NATO battlegroup, to deter any aggression.

And a new headquarters to lead NATO land operations in the region.

All these efforts enhance our defences along the eastern flank and in the High North.



Today, we discussed further strengthening our deterrence and defence.

Over the past decade, NATO has carried out the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence in a generation.

With more forces, and at higher readiness.

We both agree that NATO must go further and faster.

We need more, better equipped forces;

A more robust transatlantic defence industry;

Increased defence production capacity;

Greater investment in innovation; and

Secure supply chains.

Allies are already stepping up, with plans to acquire thousands of air defence and artillery systems;

Many hundreds of modern aircraft, mostly 5th generation F-35s;

As well as substantial high-end capabilities.

But to do more, we must spend more.

To reach our capability targets, 2% clearly will not be enough.



We also addressed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, where I made my first ever visit as Secretary General just last week.

NATO must and will do more to help Ukraine.

Russia continues to carry out massive strikes against Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure.

Ukraine could be facing its toughest winter since the full-scale invasion began,

I pay tribute to the resilience and the bravery of the Ukrainian people and their armed forces.

NATO Allies are providing almost all military support to Ukraine.

This is vital for Ukraine’s stability and ability to stay in the fight.

And I will be at Ramstein, together with Alex Stubb, at the table at Ukraine Defence Contact Group to press for more aid.

I welcome Finland's continuous support to Ukraine.

You have delivered a significant amount of support. Over 2 billion euros in military aid.

What Finland is doing helps save lives.

And the more military support we give, the faster this war will end.



President Stubb and I also discussed Russia’s ongoing campaign of malign activities on Allied territory.

And in this regard, I welcome the European Union’s new sanctions regime targeting hybrid threats.

In an unpredictable world we stand together to defend our shared values and democratic systems.

Dear Alex,

Thank you for your steadfast commitment to our transatlantic Alliance.

I look forward to continuing to work together.
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7:21 True words from Stubb. Keep in mind that Finland's military, since the end of WW2, has always prepared itself for an incoming aggression from Russia.
On one hand, Finland has always tried to keep good relations through diplomacy to all its neighboring countries, but they were not naive, knowing exactly that the threat was coming from the East and not from the West. That's why they have build alliances with their Nordic partners, constructed bunkers on their eastern border and even developed weapons that have the primary purpose to defend themselves against a possible armed conflict against Russia. Finland is for sure a security provider and a huge enrichment for the entire NATO. We are glad to have you by our side!

[jensy]

Love NATO Follow and support this man.

[juripyy]

In Finland, we have a very clever president. I am so proud of him.

[ArnoldLarsen]

Thank you Mark Rutte and Alexander Stubb. True leaders.

[craighughes]

Stand strong and united NATO. The world needs you now more than ever.

[davetekannon]

What a historic meeting with two great leaders, Alexander Stubb, President of Finland and Secretary General Mark Rutte of Holand. There are times in history when we as the public are fortunate to have the best people in charge and this is certainly one of them. Both of these leaders are going to steer NATO and Europe towards a lasting peace and help Ukraine win its war of independence from President Putin's war machine.

[weidmpr]

Gracias por siempre Sr Secretario Jens Stoltenberg por una gran labor y seguridad para el mundo.
Sr Mark Rutte bienvenido a NATO fuerza, corage, decision, NATO mas unida, NATO mas fuerte, NATO mas grande, NATO mas poderosa que nunca. Felicitaciones de Colombia.

[tacticalsapper]

Welcome Finland, nice to have you in our family.

[feurigessiegelstuck]

My special thank you is for the dictator of the russian federation, for strenghtening NATO and reminding us why collective defense is necessary to secure our democracies against foreign aggression. If only we had listened to our eastern partners earlier. Greeting from Germany.

[MrDalebenberger]

It’s nice to see an experienced leader like Mr. Rutte take the mantle from Jens Stoltenberg. I feel like we will have good continuity. Slava Ukraini.

[PatrickSiamol-zvdd]

Great speech President we all must work together to maintain peace and end war around the world and make peace and the world a better safest and peaceful place for all Humen race to live.

[hmbp]

Mr. Atubb, all the best and we from Denmark love you.

[acorchan]

He speaks very very good English, hardly hearing an accent on. He's not trying to impress, but understandable. Nice

[NomenNescio-go]

Well spoken Mark! The right man for this job.

[SoniChashmaGhar]

💐💜 great speech and debate and happiness love forever and always heldty and happy 💜💐

[NewMusicWeekly]

So much more impressive than the Americans, despite the vastly smaller populations.

[ypey]

These are actually impressive men in politics. Im shocked

[joanjenny]

Thank you to these Leaders for using real words and cooperation to end the war in Ukraine. Peace to the World.

[mariusgrad]

Welcome Finland good move and on time ! Long live NATO 💌,

[Targy]

What a great speech and very controlled way and very professional and thank god they joined NATO as he spoke more controlled and well thought out speech 💯👍