World’s Northernmost Honorary Consulate of Lithuania Inaugurated in Oulu, Finland
A new Honorary Consulate of Lithuania was officially inaugurated in Oulu, in Finland’s North Ostrobothnia region, on 29 October 2026. The Consulate is headed by Dr. Kari Petteri Alenius, a distinguished historian, academic, and long-standing friend of Lithuania.
Situated on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, more than 600 kilometres north of Helsinki, Oulu is one of Finland’s foremost centres of science, technology, and culture. Having played a leading role in the development of global wireless communications technologies from 3G to 5G, Oulu is today at the forefront of shaping the next generation of 6G standards.
Oulu combines cutting-edge innovation with a vibrant cultural life. In 2026, the city holds the title of European Capital of Culture. Internationally, Oulu is also recognized for its sustainable mobility infrastructure and is widely regarded as the world’s capital of winter cycling.
The official inauguration ceremony of the Honorary Consulate took place at the Valve Cultural Centre in Oulu. On behalf of Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, Lithuania’s Ambassador to Finland, Edvilas Raudonikis, presented Dr Kari Alenius with his commission as Honorary Consul. “Relations between Lithuania and Finland are built not only on shared interests, but also on individuals who efficiently foster closer ties between our countries. Dr Kari Alenius is one such person,” the Ambassador said.
Following the official ceremony, guests were invited to attend Katariina Jagellonica: the Queen Who United the Shores of the Baltic, a performance by the Lithuanian contemporary dance company Plalaforma, set to music by the young Finnish composer Otso Kauniskangas. The performance reflected on the shared history of the Baltic Sea region.
The newly appointed Honorary Consul, Dr Kari Petteri Alenius, is one of Finland’s leading scholars of Baltic history. Having studied philosophy at the Universities of Oulu and Tartu and earned his doctorate in 1996, he has served as Professor of History at the University of Oulu since 2014. His research focuses on the history and societal development of the Baltic States, as well as relations between ethnic communities. Dr Alenius visits Lithuania not only for professional purposes but also as a holiday destination, and he is familiar with the Lithuanian language.
Dr Alenius’s extensive professional and social networks across the regions of North Ostrobothnia and Lapland will create new opportunities to strengthen Lithuanian-Finnish co-operation in the fields of security, science, innovation, and culture.
The opening of the Honorary Consulate coincided with the annual meeting of Lithuania’s Honorary Consuls in Finland with the team of the Embassy of Lithuania. The meeting was held in the Hall of Honorary Consuls at Oulu City Hall, decorated with the coats of arms of all countries represented by honorary consuls in the city. During the meeting, the Honorary Consuls and Embassy's representatives discussed Lithuania’s priorities in preparation for the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027, the Embassy’s plans, the work carried out by the Honorary Consuls in 2026, and their upcoming initiatives.
Lithuania is currently represented in Finland by five honorary consuls based in Tampere, Joensuu, Turku, Mikkeli, and Oulu.
