The head of state stressed that for South Korea, as for Estonia, the 20th century meant a decisive battle for freedom and against imperialistic ambitions. He explained how Estonia had made skilful use of the historical opportunities that presented themselves during the century to achieve independence, and then to restore it following the era of Soviet occupation.
President Karis also spoke of the Ukrainian people’s fight for freedom and its global impact. “Russia’s war against Ukraine is putting the credibility of the democratic world to the test,” he said. “Authoritarian regimes everywhere are keeping a close eye on how the United States and the free world as a whole respond to this attack on international law and democratic values. If they begin to sense that democratic nations are helpless and will succumb to pressure, no country or region in close proximity to an authoritarian regime will be able to feel safe.”
The head of state expressed his concern at authoritarian countries starting to work more closely together, forming a single front in pushing the boundaries between the permissible and the impermissible and ignoring the UN Charter. “This has also exposed the impotence of the UN Security Council, since one of its permanent members is the aggressor in this war,” he added.
President Karis said that matters pertaining to Ukraine had led to a moment of truth. “The very foundations of international law are being challenged, in particular the principles of free self-determination and territorial integrity, and the UN Charter as a whole,” he noted. “As such, even for countries as far apart geographically as Estonia and South Korea, how Russia’s war against Ukraine ends will prove decisive for both of us.”
The head of state explained that European leaders had gradually begun to realise that the 2% level of defence spending required of NATO members had become an absolute minimum. He added that Estonia was planning to increase its spending on national defence to 3% of GDP despite just one third of member countries so far having raised theirs to this level.
Sungkyunkwan University was founded in 1398. A private research university, it is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the Republic of Korea.
