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Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces to Brussels

Defence Forces
Publication date 10.5.2023 8.00
Press release

The Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, General Timo Kivinen, will participate in the meetings of the NATO Military Committee on May 10th and the European Union Military Committeeon May 11th in Brussels.

The NATO Military Committee meeting will include the commanders of the armed forces of NATO member states as well as the commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. The European Union Military Committee meeting will involve the commanders of the armed forces of the EU member states. The meetings will address current security and defence-related topics. The Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces will also have bilateral meetings during the events.

Other representatives of the Finnish Defence Forces at the meetings include Lieutenant General Kim Jäämeri, the Finland's military representative to the European Union and NATO, as well as assistant military representatives and experts. 

The NATO Military Committee is responsible for NATO's highest military decision-making and prepares military advice for the North Atlantic Council. Alongside with the North Atlantic Council, The Military Committee is one of the most important working bodies of the alliance. The Committee regularly meets with representatives of member states' armed forces and three times a year among the commanders of the armed forces. The chairman of the NATO Military Committee is the alliance's highest military officer.

The European Union Military Committee directs all EU military activities, in particular the planning and implementation of military tasks and operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy, as well as the development of military capabilities. The committee provides military contributions to the EU's Political and Security Committee and makes recommendations on military matters.

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