The Estonian head of state says Russia’s incursion into Ukraine demonstrates how vital NATO remains to the security of Europe. “I have no doubt that the West’s military might alone is enough to deter Moscow,” he remarked during the meeting. “But the fact that Russian forces have failed to achieve their objectives in Ukraine does not mean the country no longer poses a military threat, and that is why we must not let our guard down.”
President Karis mentioned to Admiral Bauer that support for NATO has always been high among Estonians. “The alliance remains the cornerstone of our country’s military defence,” he said, thanking NATO for its rapid response to the alarming turn of events in the security situation in February.
President Karis, who is the supreme commander of Estonia’s national defence, highlighted the actions the country has taken to reinforce its defensive position. “We are fully aware that we need to make more of an effort ourselves,” he said. “To that end, the government has allocated additional funding for the rapid development of new military capabilities. Our aim is to establish the framework for a division that enables allied forces to seamlessly work with and serve alongside the Estonian Defence Forces.”
Discussing NATO’s expansion, President Karis expressed his hope that Finland and Sweden would become fully fledged members of the alliance as soon as possible. “It will considerably broaden NATO’s options and lead to closer regional cooperation on defence,” he said. “It is important that the Baltic Sea region be treated in military terms as a single, unified space.”
