Arctic eTalks

Arctic eTalks is hosted by “The Watch” Command Magazine, United States Northern Command, United States European Command, United States Indo-Pacific Command and the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience.

Arctic eTalks is a monthly forum for open discussion (non-attribution) on key issues affecting the Circumpolar Arctic for academics, defense and security professionals, and military leaders from Canada, Finland, Iceland, Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland and Faroe Islands), Norway, Sweden, and the United States

Partners Include:

• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory - United Kingdom
• George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
• Joint Task Force (North) - Canadian Armed Forces
• Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom (UK MOD)
  
• NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (StratCom)
  
• North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN)
• Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS)
• Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)
• Royal Danish Defence College (fak.dk)
• United States Coast Guard (Arctic)
• William J. Perry Center, National Defense University (NDU)

Arctic eTalks  for April 2021 features Janne Kuusela

Biography:

Mr. Janne Kuusela is Defense Policy Director and Deputy Director General at the Defense Policy Department of the Ministry of Defense of Finland. He is also member of the Arctic Policy Steering group for the Finnish Government. Before the current post, Mr. Kuusela served as acting Director General for Defense Policy (2016-2020).

The Defense Policy Department provides policy and planning guidance for the Defense Forces. The Department covers issues such as national defense capability, defense cooperation, military crisis management, disarmament and arms control, as well as defense research.

Mr. Kuusela joined the MoD in 1999 working with Finland’s defense support for the Baltic States. Later on, he was specialist on European Security and Defense Policy (2001-2003) and Finland’s cooperation with NATO (2003-2006). He served as Defense Adviser at the Mission of Finland to NATO Headquarters (2006-2009) and after that as Ministerial Adviser at the MoD (2009-2012) on Finland’s multinational and bilateral defense cooperation. Mr. Kuusela has also acted as Head of Corporate Planning Unit at the MoD (2012-2016), where his tasks included development of defense administration’s organization and economic efficiency, overseeing the implementation of government’s program as well as supporting the work of MoD’s management boards.

Mr. Kuusela is graduate of the University of Tampere, Finland. In addition to his Master of Social Sciences degree (International Relations and Economics) he has conducted graduate studies on International Relations in Berlin and Geneva, as well as post-graduate studies in the University of Helsinki. He has authored and co-authored publications and articles on European defense cooperation and Finland’s relations to NATO.

Mr Kuusela was born in Rovaniemi, Finland, in 1972. He is married and has two children.

Mr Kuusela has been awarded the decoration of a Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland and a Medal for Military Merits. Mr. Kuusela has completed national military service in the Finnish Navy and holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in reserve.

 

Presentation Slides

 

Presentation Script

 

Presentation Recording: