Security shocks for EU Member States outside NATO: Finnish and Irish Perspectives on defence transformation

With confidence-building in Europe devastated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this event, which is jointly hosted by the IIEA and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), will examine Irish and Finnish perspectives on defence transformation in light of current and emerging geopolitical challenges. A panel of expert speakers will examine the similarities and differences between the Irish and Finnish defence perspectives, as well as the challenges both countries face in adapting to a changing global defence landscape.

About the Speaker:

Speakers at this event will include: Esa Pulkkinen, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence of Finland, and member of the Commission on the Irish Defence Forces, which published its report in February 2022; Marie Cross, IIEA Board Member and Senior Fellow, and member of the Commission on the Irish Defence Forces; Eoin McNamara, Visiting Research Fellow, FIIA, and a widely published expert on defence policy; and Mika Aaltola, Director, FIIA, who will deliver opening remarks at the event.  The event will be chaired by Tyyne Karjalainen, Research Fellow, FIIA.