U.S. European Command Vice Director for Partnership, Security Cooperation and Space Capability British Brig. Leigh R. Tingey hosted a military academic delegation from NATO’s newest member state Oct. 19, 2023, at EUCOM headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.
Finnish Defence Forces Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy Lt. Gen. Janne Jaakkola and 27 senior Finnish military leaders attending the nation’s High Command Course visited and familiarized themselves with both EUCOM and NATO Supreme Headquarters Allies Powers in Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, as part of the study trip.
Presentations and discussions were designed to optimize interoperability, strengthen the bilateral strategic relationship and build a positive frame of reference for future interactions between the Finnish Defence Forces and EUCOM.
"This is the perfect capstone to our High Command Course,” Jaakola said. “The visit to SHAPE and EUCOM gives strategic context to our senior leaders responsible for national and collective defense."
The discussions focused on defense cooperation, activities like operations and exercises, military training, and resourcing. Designed to enable Finland’s senior military leaders to be key decision makers in current and future roles, the visit also strengthened the collective resolve between the two nations to support multinational goals across Europe as part of NATO’s collective defense.
“Our shared values and commitment to collective defense unite our two nations, along with 29 other NATO member states on both sides of the Atlantic,” Tingey said. “This Alliance embodies this transatlantic bond through which the security of NATO Allies in Europe and North America is inextricably linked.”
Finland became an official member of NATO on April 4, 2023. With its full accession, the nation committed to not only contributing to Europe’s collective defense, but also helping to uphold NATO’s common values of individual liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
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U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 64,000 military and civilian personnel and works closely with NATO Allies and partners. The command is one of two U.S. forward-deployed geographic combatant commands headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. For more information about USEUCOM, visit www.eucom.mil.
