President Alar Karis is of the opinion that the solution to the critical challenges facing us today lies in smooth cooperation and solidarity, because only supporting one another can make us stronger. “The cooperation of the Baltic countries is currently more critical than ever before. Moreover, it is a defining factor in terms of our resilience in the current complicated situation,” said President Karis. “We have long learned that the Baltics are one security space. The same applies to energy. The vulnerability of one country endangers us all.”
The Estonian head of state believes that any talks of peace or ceasefire in relation to the Russian aggression in Ukraine are currently premature. “It is of utmost importance to provide Ukraine military assistance so that they can win this war,” said President Karis. “Peace is only possible if the aggression fails completely and war criminals are brought to justice.”
According to President Karis, the decisions made at the Madrid Summit to apply NATO’s strengthened deterrence and defence stance in our region must be followed up immediately and by the Vilnius Summit taking place next summer at the latest. “Collective defence does not come for free. We know this and invest increasingly more in our own defence,” President Karis noted and added that Estonia’s defence expenditure will be nearing a total of three percent of the GDP next year. According to him it is important for all allies to fulfil the collective obligations assumed.
The meeting in Riga, which takes place at the invitation of Egils Levits, President of Latvia, the current presiding country of the Baltic Council of Ministers, also includes discussions of possibilities for assisting and supporting Ukraine, desynchronisation of the power grid from the Russian grid system, gas supply this winter, the construction of Rail Baltic and cooperation in the Baltic Council of Ministers during the next period under Estonian presidency.
Next year will see the Estonian presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM) as part of the regular rotation. Estonia will take over the leading role of the cooperation format from Latvia. During its presidency, Estonia will focus on regional security, major joint energy and transport projects, tackling climate change and the European Union Neighbourhood Policy.
