The Ministry for Foreign Affairs

“Democracy. The rule of law. Human rights. Equality. The freedom of each and every individual to pursue a life they choose for themselves. When the world around us is changing rapidly these are the values we must uphold.”

“In the current environment, a strong network of diplomatic missions is especially important, enabling Finland to identify changes at an early stage and respond swiftly to foreign and security policy challenges.”

At the presidential session on Friday 14 August, the President of the Republic appointed Jukka Pajarinen Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Riyadh, Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Jakarta and Janne Taalas Head of Finland’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York. Pajarinen and Suomela-Chowdhury will take up their posts on 1 September and Taalas on 1 November 2026. At its session on Thursday 13 August, the Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Sami Leino to the post of Deputy Director General of the Foreign Ministry’s Legal Service for a fixed term from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2030.

The Finnish Government promoted Counsellor Hanna Lepistö to the public office of Counsellor for Foreign Affairs starting on 1 September 2026 and appointed her to the post of Deputy Director General of the Political Department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for a fixed term from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2030.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has appointed Johanna Kaprio-Papageorgiou to serve as Counsellor for Public Diplomacy and Communications at Finland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2029.