Opening address by Permanent State Secretary Jukka Salovaara at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission

Opening address by Permanent State Secretary Jukka Salovaara at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission

"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."

Distinguished Ambassadors, Esteemed Ministers, Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 2026 Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission. This is a valuable opportunity to gather in person and discuss the foreign policy agenda together.

My warm thanks to Parliament for making it possible to hold this meeting in the Little Parliament. This well-established tradition reflects the close ties between Finnish diplomacy and Parliament.

This is the fifth and final time that I have the privilege of chairing the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission. Thank you all for your cooperation over the years. Together, we have achieved a great deal. I would also like to wish my successor, Director General Tuomas Tapio, every success. I know that I leave you in capable and wise hands.

Distinguished Ambassadors,

This may be a good moment to look back briefly and reflect on what we have achieved in recent years. My term as State Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs began with Finland's accession to NATO. The process included a Turkish chapter, and together we brought it to a successful conclusion. Many of you worked tirelessly to secure Finland's swift accession.

When the new Government took office, we reformed the Foreign Service. We streamlined our leadership structures, brought related functions together and strengthened our organisation. The reform succeeded and made us more agile.

At the beginning of this year, we completed the reform of Finland's trade promotion system and ensured a seamless transition to the new operating model. A more unified approach to trade promotion abroad benefits both the central government administration and the trade promotion for Finnish businesses. It also allows us to respond more effectively to an increasingly geopolitical international environment. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs plays an active role in supporting Finland's economic growth. Helping Finnish companies export and grow internationally is central to that work. We do this in close cooperation with businesses.

This summer, the Government and its ministries also reformed their communications. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has a long and distinguished communications tradition and a strong record throughout the history of Finnish foreign policy. We must now make the new model a success. I am confident that the unique requirements of international affairs will continue to receive the attention they deserve.

Balancing the Ministry's finances has been a constant challenge. We have made savings, fully aware of the pressure on central government finances. Throughout this process, our priority has been to protect Finland's network of missions abroad. For that reason, we have focused most savings on headquarters functions. The Foreign Service delivers its greatest value in the field.

However, this approach has required significant staff reductions in Finland. Today, there are more than ten per cent fewer people at Merikasarmi than there were four years ago. As financial pressures have continued, we have also had to make adjustments across our missions abroad.

I know this has not been easy. Diplomats are driven by a desire to spot opportunities and do more for Finland. It is part of their professional DNA.

But enough about the past. Let's look ahead.

Dear Friends,

We face many positive challenges. Finnish diplomacy is respected, and it is needed. One of our most important shared objectives is Finland's campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2029-2030 term. The Security Council offers us an important opportunity to influence international affairs.

We want a stronger international system and greater respect for agreed rules. That will not happen by itself. It requires persistent engagement in international cooperation.

While no country has challenged Finland's candidacy, we must still run an energetic campaign. It gives us an excellent opportunity to listen to partners around the world and to show that Finland is committed.

Distinguished Ambassadors,

We are also beginning to look towards next year's parliamentary elections and the Government that will follow. I can say from experience that government coalition talks are a key moment of influence for any Permanent Secretary. Preparations have been under way for a long time.

A departing State Secretary enjoys one particular privilege: the freedom to say exactly what he thinks. I feel obliged to make use of that privilege today.

Allow me, therefore, to offer three wishes for next year's coalition talks. The list is not exhaustive, but these are my main points.

First, take good care of Finnish diplomacy. No one will defend Finland's interests unless we do it ourselves. At a time like this, diplomacy matters more than ever. It forms the first line of our homeland defence. Ukraine's experience demonstrates this clearly. Even in the midst of war, it has invested heavily in expanding its diplomatic network.

Two thirds of the Ministry's operating expenditure goes directly to maintaining Finland's missions abroad. We cannot continue reducing the Ministry's budget and at the same time expect the diplomatic network to remain at a sufficient scale.

Finnish diplomacy is not a major burden on public finances. The Ministry's operating expenditure represents only a little over one quarter of one per mille of the national budget. Diplomacy is an investment in Finland's security and prosperity.

Second, the Minister for Foreign Affairs should also serve as Minister for European Affairs. Within the European Union, foreign policy increasingly rests with heads of state and government through the European Council. Finland would benefit if responsibility for foreign policy and European affairs were brought closer together. Strengthening that link would strengthen Finland's influence.

Third, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service should continue to deepen their partnership. We analyse many of the same developments and work closely together. Our assessments often overlap. As the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service has evolved into an increasingly civilian intelligence organisation, it would be natural to place it under the guidance of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, as Sweden has done.

Dear Ambassadors,

It is also our tradition to remember colleagues we have lost during the year. We honour the memory of Jaakko Blomberg, Ralf Friberg, Ritva Jolkkonen and Klaus Törnudd.

I now invite you to rise and join me in a moment of silence in tribute to their life's work.