NATO commemorates the 25th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States

On Friday, a solemn ceremony was held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The event was attended by permanent representatives of Alliance nations as well as members of NATO's diplomatic, military, and international staff community.

NATO Deputy Secretary General, Radmila Shekerinska, joined the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Mission to NATO, Scott Oudkirk, and the United States Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee, Lieutenant General William D. "Hank" Taylor, to give remarks next to the 9/11 and Article 5 Memorial at NATO Headquarters.

The Deputy Secretary General said that on 9/11: "America was not alone. Your friends, your Allies, were with you then, and they are with you here today. 9/11 was the first and only time in NATO's history that we have invoked Article 5. One for all, and all for one. The promise that unites us every day. It keeps us strong and safe, no matter what."

The ceremony at NATO Headquarters included minute of silence at the exact time the first attack took place on the North Tower of the World Trade Center. NATO Deputy Secretary General said: "Terror did not win on that bright, blue day, 25 years ago. And terror never will".

To honour the victims of the attacks and the sacrifices of service members since, flags were at half-staff at NATO Headquarters, as well as at Allied Command Operations in Mons, Belgium, and at NATO Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia.