© Jeannot Ries
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, renowned for her firm stance against Russia, visited Luxembourg on Wednesday to discuss European defence and digital advancements while garnering support for her potential role as the EU's next chief diplomat.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, known for her hardline stance against Russia, visited Luxembourg on Wednesday. As a neighbour to Russia, Estonia feels the threat daily and thus places a high priority on European defence, perhaps more so than other EU member states. Kallas intends to uphold this firm approach if she becomes the EU's next chief diplomat.
During the visit, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden praised Estonia's advancements in digitalisation, noting that digital ID cards have been available in Estonia for about 20 years. Luxembourg aims to learn from Estonia's experience, particularly in organising digital elections. In return, Luxembourg offers to assist Estonia with data capacity.
The topic of European defence was naturally prominent in the discussions with Kallas. Estonia, occupied by the Soviet Union until the early 1990s, perceives the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a significant new threat. In an interview with our colleagues from RTL Télé, Kallas emphasised the global stakes, stating that if Russia's aggression goes unpunished, it could lead to more conflicts worldwide.
NATO and the EU have consistently aimed to support Ukraine to avoid its defeat. However, Kallas deliberately frames the objective as a Ukrainian victory, underscoring her unwavering stance on the issue. The goal must be to ensure that Russia does not win, Kallas said, emphasising the importance of a Ukrainian victory and a retreat of Russian troops behind the original borders.
The media often refer to Kallas as the "Iron Lady" due to her steadfast positions against Russia. She is unfazed by being officially persona non grata in the eyes of the Kremlin. Kallas aspires to become the EU's chief diplomat to unify the 27 EU states on security policy and adopt an even more resolute stance against Russia. For Estonia, a small and relatively new EU member, having an Estonian in such a high position would be a significant prestige boost.
Kallas believes the current geopolitical tensions present an opportunity to bring Estonia's voice to major negotiation tables, where it has been absent so far. PM Frieden has meanwhile pledged his support for Kallas' candidacy at the EU summit on Thursday. Frieden lauded her as a trained lawyer and staunch European who would uphold the principle of the rule of law.
