Commodore Juhapekka Rautava is Finland's new defense attaché in Germany and the Netherlands.

Commodore Juhapekka Rautava began his work as Finland's new defense attaché in Germany and the Netherlands on August 1, 2024. Commodore Misa Kangaste handed over the duties to Rautava at the office in Berlin.

The outgoing and newly appointed defense attaché laid a wreath in the memorial grove (Wald der Erinnerung) at Germany's operational headquarters in Potsdam. The memorial grove was established in 2014 to honor soldiers who have fallen in German crisis management operations.

Before coming to Berlin, Commodore Rautava served as the Operations Chief for the Navy. He has previously been the head of the Naval Warfare School, sector chief at the General Staff, commander of the 7th Missile Flotilla, and staff officer at NATO’s Centre of Excellence for Coastal Warfare in Kiel, Germany, from 2009 to 2012.

"Finland and Germany’s military defense cooperation has long-standing traditions. As a major European country and a globally significant actor, Germany is an important allied partner in foreign and security policy, as well as in defense cooperation. The war in Ukraine has altered the defense policy situation in the Baltic Sea and its surrounding areas, highlighting the need for cooperation between the countries. With Finland's NATO membership, bilateral cooperation will intensify further. The core of this cooperation is the bilateral defense agreement signed by Germany and Finland. Additionally, Finland joined the Framework Nation Concept (FNC) group led by Germany in 2017. For the Netherlands, there are opportunities for cooperation within the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF group). There are also opportunities for collaboration within pan-European defense projects. The Netherlands plays a significant role in the F-35 group,” says Rautava.

In his new role, Rautava is the official representative of the Commander of the Finnish Defense Forces in Germany and the Netherlands. His duties include reporting on security policy and military changes and issues related to them. The defense attaché is also the ambassador's military advisor on defense policy matters and acts as a link between the host country and Finland on defense issues.