From Europe to the Indo-Pacific: Finnish views on strategic partnerships and security in times of uncertainty

Finland, which shares a 1300km land border with Russia, has had its strategic circumstances dramatically impacted by the war in Ukraine. In this talk, State Secretary Pasi Rajala will discuss Europe’s evolving security landscape and its implications for Finland and NATO. He will share Finnish views on enhancing security and national resilience in response to shifting dynamics across Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the global stage. He will also speak to the importance of deepening cooperation between Finland and New Zealand, two like-minded partners committed to democratic values, multilateralism, and the rules-based international order.

Mr. Pasi Rajala is State Secretary to Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen. He has previously served as Special European Affairs Adviser to the Finnish Prime Minister, Special Adviser to the Minister for Trade and Development, and Press Counselor and Spokesperson at the Finnish Embassy in Washington, D.C. Prior to that he held a number of communications positions, including in development finance company Finnfund, PR agency EuroRSCG, and the UN Development Program. Mr. Rajala holds a Master of Social Sciences degree from the University of Helsinki where he majored in International Relations.