Obrana Evropy: pohled z Finska

Prague Center for Transatlantic Relations invites you to a discussion

 

Joined by Nicholas Williams, Senior Non-Resident Fellow, PCTR & European Leadership Network

 

Moderated by Jan Jireš

 

 

CEVRO University, Jungmannova 28/17, Prague 1

 

Please register here.

 

Finland responded radically to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: it abandoned its long-standing policy of non-participation in defense alliances and joined NATO. Today, Finland is a key element of the alliance’s collective defense, but most importantly serves as a model for many other European countries – due to its large and well-trained military reserves and its ability to mobilize the public to defend the country.

 

Janne Kuusela is the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence of Finland since 1st February 2026. The Permanent Secretary manages and supervises the activities of the Ministry of Defence together with the Minister. From 2016 to February 2026 Mr. Kuusela served as Director General of the Defence Policy Department, which is responsible for developing Finnish Defence Policy, participation in international defence cooperation, providing the basis for the Defence Forces’ planning and the direction of strategic research.

 

Nicholas Williams had filled a series of policy and public communications posts in the British MoD and in NATO, including as speech writer to three NATO Secretary Generals. During his career he served in Bosna & Herzegovina, Afhganistan and Iraq. Currently, he is a Senior Associate Fellow for the European Leadership Network (ELN), Vice President of the Academic Board of CERIS-ULB Diplomatic School of Brussels and Non-Resident Senior Fellow PCTR.