Stoltenberg appoints new NATO Deputy Secretary General: Meet Tarja Jaakkola
Tarja Jaakkola, Director-General of the Resource Policy Department of Finland's Ministry of Defense (Photo: defmin.fi)
The Finnish Ministry of Defense reports that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has appointed a new Deputy Secretary General for Defense Investments. The position has been filled by Tarja Jaakkola, head of the Resource Policy Department at the Finnish Ministry of Defense.
She will assume her duties on September 2, 2024.
The Defense Investment Division is responsible for the development of NATO and its allies' material capabilities, including air and missile defense.
In this role, Jaakkola will also chair the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) of NATO.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen described Jaakkola’s appointment as a significant event for both the country and the Alliance. Jaakkola is the first Finnish representative to hold such a high position in NATO.
NATO has eight Deputy Secretary Generals who report to the Secretary General. Jaakkola is the first Finnish Deputy Secretary General.
Born in 1964, Tarja Jaakkola has headed the Resource Policy Department of the Ministry of Defense since 2022. Previously, she held positions such as Head of the Defense Materials Department, Government Advisor at the Ministry of Defense, Deputy Head of Department, and Head of the European Defense Agency (EDA) in Brussels. Jaakkola holds a bachelor's degree in law and is a deputy barrister.
Finland in NATO
On April 4, 2023, Finland officially became the 31st member of NATO. This event was one of the most significant developments in European security in recent decades. The decision to join the Alliance was made against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions and Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Earlier, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen stated that NATO troops from several countries could be stationed in Finland.
