President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö took part in the NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11 and 12 July 2023.
The main topics at the summit were NATO’s deterrence and defence, the defence investment pledge of the member states, support for Ukraine, the development of NATO-Ukraine relationship, and and cooperation between NATO and its partners. On Tuesday 11 July, President Niinistö attended the Heads of State and Government meeting of the North Atlantic Council and a dinner. On the second day of the Summit, the Heads of State and Government continued their meeting and the NATO-Ukraine Council met for the first time. This meeting was also attended by President of Ukraine Zelenskyy.
After the Summit, President Niinistö told the Finnish media that it had been historic in many respects: “From Finland’s point of view, the most important thing is of course that we attended the meeting as a full member for the first time. The NATO-Ukraine meeting was also historic because for the first time, the parties met within the framework of a council, which means that the partnership between NATO and Ukraine was given a high priority.”
President Niinistö quoted Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, who had noted that with regard to Ukraine’s NATO membership path, there has been a change from a two-step process to a one-step process. “When the conditions are right and all criteria have been met, Ukraine will be invited to join the alliance. It is of course clear that all member states must support its membership,” the President added. “Ukraine is well aware that it cannot join NATO as long as the war continues.”
According to President Niinistö, on the eve of the Summit, Sweden’s NATO membership was also given green light by President Erdoğan of Türkiye. “It is quite difficult to give the exact date when the ratifications can take effect. They must still be approved by parliaments in Ukraine and Türkiye.”
Several bilateral meetings
President Niinistö had several bilateral meetings during the Summit. At his meeting with French President Macron, the focus was on global developments: “Will the world be divided into two blocks or not and what should be done?” asked the President. President Niinistö and German Federal Chancellor Scholz discussed the current situation in Europe and Russia. “With Polish President Duda, we reiterated that Poland and Finland take national defence very seriously.” On Wednesday, President Niinistö also had a bilateral meeting with Yoon Suk Yeol, President of South Korea.
The Summit delegation led by President Niinistö included Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.
In connection with the Summit, the North Atlantic Council held informal meetings in Foreign Minister and Defence Minister sessions.
For Finland, the Vilnius summit was the first as a NATO member state. When Finland was a partner country, President Niinistö led the Finnish delegation at the NATO summit in Madrid in June 2022, at a virtual summit in February 2022, and at the summits in Brussels in 2018, Warsaw in 2016, Wales in 2014 and Chicago in 2012.
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President Sauli Niinistö congratulates Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson and the Swedish delegation before the beginning of the NATO Summit on 11 July 2023 in Vilnius. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Sauli Niinistö met with President of France Emmanuel Macron before the beginning of the NATO Summit on 11 July 2023 in Vilnius. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Sauli Niinistö met with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz at the NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11 July 2023. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Sauli Niinistö met with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz and his delegation at the NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11 July 2023. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Sauli Niinistö met with Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob before the beginning of the NATO Summit on 11 July 2023 in Vilnius. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Sauli Niinistö arriving at the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of of Heads of State and Government on 11 July 2023 in Vilnius. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Sauli Niinistö and President of the United States Joe Biden at the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government on 11 July 2023 in Vilnius. Photo: Ville Hukkanen/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Sauli Niinistö participated in the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of of Heads of State and Government on 11 July 2023 in Vilnius. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Sauli Niinistö participated in the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of of Heads of State and Government on 11 July 2023 in Vilnius. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Finland to its first meeting as a full member of NATO. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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Overview of the meeting room. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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The Nordic Heads of State and Government with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11 July 2023. Photo: The Office of the Prime Minister of Norway
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President Sauli Niinistö at the NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11 July 2023 together with President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda and his spouse Diana Nausėdienė. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Sauli Niinistö at the NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11 July 2023 in discussion with with President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Sauli Niinistö participated in the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of of Heads of State and Government on 11 July 2023 in Vilnius. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland