New Delhi — At Finland’s 108th Independence Day reception in New Delhi, Ambassador Kimmo Lahdevirta reaffirmed his country’s rejection of terrorism and underscored growing bilateral ties with India. Speaking at the celebration, Lahdevirta highlighted shared priorities between the two nations, including digitalisation, education, sustainability and innovation, and described the day as an opportunity to celebrate Finland–India friendship and partnership.
Stressing Finland’s commitment to international law and norms, the ambassador said the country respects the rule of law and international treaties and opposes terrorism in all its forms. His comments come against the backdrop of recent terror-related incidents in India, notably the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians and was linked to The Resistance Front, and a November 10 car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort that killed at least 15 people and was later classified as a terror incident by the Union Cabinet.
The Finnish embassy and India’s Ministry of External Affairs note long-standing cordial relations that have recently deepened into cooperation on research, innovation and mutual investment. In June, the Finnish envoy publicly supported India’s right and duty to protect its citizens following New Delhi’s Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam attack.
