Address by President Alar Karis at the Victory Day parade in Pärnu

Esteemed members of the Defence League,
Friends of our country,
People of Estonia,

It is my pleasure to be speaking to you all at our Victory Day parade here in Pärnu. Our summer capital is a more than worthy setting for such a line-up: it was the birthplace of the Republic of Estonia, after all, a fact we are reminded of today at every turn. It was here that the boldest and most righteous decision our nation has ever made was read out: that it would be, and remain, independent. And it is near here, in Tori, that we light the Victory Flame each year, which not only celebrates Estonia’s victories, but also the joy we have taken from Midsummer since days of yore.

Unfortunately, our desire to remain neutral and impartial as described back then in our independence declaration proved to be a naive hope, as history all too clearly showed. Following the restoration of our independence, we chose a different path to guarantee the defence and security of our nation: recalling the consequences of inaction, we opted for action; recalling the consequences of isolation, we opted to be part of security alliances.

The international situation we are seeing today, and Russia’s desire to undermine the world order to which we have grown accustomed, remind us on a daily basis just how right those choices were.

As such, my fellow Estonians, may I say here today: we are on the right track.

Firstly, bolstering our defence capabilities is the right track.

We will soon be contributing 5% of our annual wealth to national defence. In doing so, we will give our Defence Forces the armaments and equipment they need to ensure that we are never be pushed back: on the contrary, we will stop and cripple the enemy’s war machine in its own backyard should it prove necessary.

We are erecting a line of defence along our own border, and thus along the eastern border of NATO, where any offensive plans of the enemy will stall within the very first metre. We are increasingly manufacturing combat equipment and ammunition on our own soil, for ourselves and our allies alike. I support the efforts of the Commander of the Defence Forces in training and expanding our national defence personnel and improving the conditions under which they serve. Surveys have shown that there is growing recognition and respect among people in Estonia for the Defence Forces as a profession, and that they trust both the Defence Forces and the Defence League.

Such public trust is valuable, but we must remember that it is both hard-earned and easily lost.

For this reason, the nation must be given assurance that every euro invested in national defence – which is now more than ever before – is spent specifically to improve Estonia’s security.

My fellow countrymen,

Fostering our security alliances is also the right way forward.

The ability to defend ourselves goes hand in glove with our military alliances.

Never again do we intend to go it alone. Let me take this opportunity to thank the servicemen and women from the United Kingdom, France and the United States who are permanently stationed in Estonia, including those who are here with us today. My thanks also go to the Dutch, Italian and Portuguese air force personnel who secured our airspace last year.

We are working together to ensure that at the NATO Summit tomorrow and Wednesday, all of NATO’s allies will resolve to significantly increase their defence spending. Our joint defence plans require this of us. The threat from the East requires this of us, since it endangers all allies equally, thereby uniting us. And as I have said many times, a militarily strong NATO requires a militarily strong Europe.

Being an ally means that Estonia has very clearly chosen a side. This in turn means that we do not, and will not, abandon our allies in times of need. Estonian Defence Forces personnel have contributed to dozens of military operations in the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa, and on the world’s seas and oceans. We have been prompt in deploying police units to help Latvia, Lithuania and Poland combat migration attacks on their eastern borders. And should Europe one day need to jointly defend security in its part of the world, it should go without saying that we would involve ourselves in that.

Finally,

Demonstrating a willingness to defend is most certainly the way forward.

Our defensive spirit is like the roots of an old oak tree, concealed deep beneath the ground, but proving their strength every time when facing a storm. We should be proud of the fact today that, according to polls, Estonians’ willingness to defend their country tops 80%.

We should be proud that the Defence League has gained almost a thousand new members every year since the restoration of our independence, now numbering more than 30,000. We should be proud of our reservists, who formed an 18,000-strong fighting force during the Siil exercises. National defence knows no age limits: the oldest soldier who took part in those exercises was 84.

Nor does it discriminate based on gender. It is the right time for us to reflect on how we can boost the role of women in the Defence Forces and military service.

For a small country to be secure, its Defence Forces have to be intertwined with its society. National defence is comprehensive, reaching into all of our homes. We can implement our willingness to defend in many ways, not just by contributing to the Defence Forces, but for example by helping public safety, economic security, civil defence, crisis preparedness and building a close-knit community. Comprehensive defence is also the right track.

My fellow Estonians,
In its warmth, the Victory Flame – which will be sent forth from here into the counties today – symbolises our alliances, our fighting spirit and our willingness to defend our country. It calls on us to press briskly ahead.

May it unite us also this year with its primal power, as it unites us with our forefathers, our fighters and the knowledge of our freedom.

I wish you all a happy Victory Day and a wonderful Midsummer.

Long live the Defence League! Long live a free Estonia!