Programs and Events
Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) And the Commander, U. S. Joint Forces Command (CDRUSJFCOM), Visited Finland on July 13
Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) And the Commander, U. S. Joint Forces Command (CDRUSJFCOM), Visited Finland to meet with the Finnish Chief of Defense, Admiral Juhani Kaskeala. Admiral Giambastiani received updates on Finnish defense capabilities; toured the Finnish Navy Ship TORNIO; visited the Guard Jaeger Regiment on Santahamina; and signed an agreement welcoming a Finnish exchange officer to U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia.
Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to be here today to speak to you. It’s certainly been a very busy visit. Over the past two days, I have experienced wonderful Finnish hospitality; enjoyed very productive meetings with your Chief of Defense, Admiral Kaskeala; received updates on Finnish defense capabilities; and toured the Finnish Navy Ship TORNIO and visited the Guard Jaeger Regiment here on Santahamina, where I was very impressed with the Finnish urban combat training.
Finland is widely known and respected as a leading and very active member in the NATO Partnership for Peace program. As you may know, Partnership for Peace is aimed at defense cooperation and is the operational side of the Partnership framework, designed to reinforce stability and reduce the risk of conflict. In addition, there is a vibrant and expanding bilateral relationship between Finland and the United States, which I am pleased to build on.
Joint activities and regular consultations improve the ability of Partnership for Peace nations to operate at the Alliance’s side, furthering the democratic values at the heart of NATO and enhancing our combined readiness to respond effectively to new threats.
Partnering with our coalition members remains a top priority for US Joint Forces Command, and to that end, we are happy to welcome a Finnish exchange officer to our command in Norfolk, Virginia. His presence will further this cooperation between Finland and the United States specifically in the areas of joint and combined training, concept development and integration of war fighting capabilities. Admiral Kaskeala and I just signed an agreement outlining the scope of activities this exchange officer will pursue. I am very excited by the opportunities this first exchange officer will provide.
Finland has proved itself one of NATO’s finest partners through its outstanding peacekeeping contributions in the Balkans and the Provincial Reconstruction Teams it supports in Afghanistan, to name just two key examples. Finland has also proven to be a good friend of the United States. We value our relationship with Finland.
I am very pleased to experience at first-hand the professionalism and capabilities of the Finnish Defense Forces. They are very impressive.