President Alar Karis on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Centre for Defence Studies: Estonia’s strength in foreign & security policy lies in unity—built through debate, reflection, and even constructive disagreement

Hea Kaitseuuringute Keskuse rahvas,

Dear people of the ICDS, 

Dear security and foreign policy community,

Ladies and gentlemen!

We have suddenly reached an important milestone. The International Centre for Defence Studies turns 20. It feels like it was just yesterday that a few enthusiastic foreign-policy experts opened their office on Toom-Rüütli Street. 

In late ‘90s and early two-thousands several attempts had been made to establish such a specialised foreign policy and security agency. At last, in April 2006 there was a success, when leading to the opening of the Centre and work could begin under the leadership of Kadri Liik. 

The decision by the Ministry of Defence to set up the Centre was not made lightly. First, they didn’t have the courage, then there wasn’t enough political will, and then there wasn’t enough money. So, it went round-and-round in circles, until finally the cycle was broken and things got done. 

Kudos to those who carried the torch and finalised the process – President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Jüri Luik, two Riinas – Kionka and Kaljurand, two Lauris – Almann and Lepik, Indrek Kannik, Madis Mikko – kudos indeed! 

We should not forget and must also thank the defence ministers at the time, Jaak Jõerüüt and Jürgen Ligi, who got everything sorted in the government.

Today, the Centre has seen two decades of intensive and effective research and analyses, a lot of activity and work. It is hard to imagine our foreign and security policy without this Centre today. 

Of course, the government takes care of policy, but the more it is considered and thought through, the better it is, and with politicians and officials alone, the outcome is certainly not as good and credible without being backed up by work and research done outside the Cabinet. This gap we faced after regaining independence has been effectively filled by the Centre since its creation.

When foreign and security policy are discussed in Estonia, it is highlighted that it should be a harmonised and ideally cross-party policy. Our strength comes from speaking with one voice, and from avoiding excessive conflict. 

But this is the end-result of the process, which must be preceded by debates, discussions, reflection and, if necessary, jokingly putting up a light fight. The Centre has provided a very good platform for all this, gradually building its visibility and credibility, as well as honing its outputs. 

The Centre has also made it easier to achieve, maintain and restore coherence and consistency between our foreign, defence and security policies. Everyone in this room is familiar with the Centre’s analyses and papers, and I am sure you have found a lot of useful in them. 

Without the Centre’s expertise and know-how, our public debates or analyses of situations would be much more profane. And now we are in a situation where not a week, maybe not even a day, goes by without someone from the Centre commenting in the media or press. 

The Centre has boosted our conference landscape. The Lennart Meri Conference is widely known and brings together politicians, civil servants and experts every year to discuss the security challenges of Europe at large, and the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea in particular. 

There is always a global touch, because we all know how security always has a wider context than a single country or region. The LMC is a value in its own right. 

It has grown over time, and we can confidently claim that it is one of the most comprehensive and well-organised security conferences in the region. Several other thematic conferences have grown out of the LMC, and each year they influence our debates. 

The ABCD or Annual Baltic Conference on Defence, the Enlargement Conference and the Tallinn Digital Summit are proof of this. What else is there but to keep moving forward, keep your minds fresh, let people not only mutually confirm agreed-upon facts but also debate with each other.

Speaking of conferences, I must touch on another important element which, although not born at the Centre, has been led and guided by the Centre for over a decade. 

This is the Estonian National Defence Course, which brings together a cross-section of society twice a year in Roosta Holiday Village to share knowledge on national defence. 

There have been over fifty courses by now and I have heard nothing but praise from participants and speakers alike. It is not just one specific course, but rather a network of courses, as the cyber defence courses – KÜDI and the national defence study and training day for entrepreneurs are held under the same label. 

The biennial National Defence Conference has its own value, allowing an alumni community that has already grown to more than 2,000 members to keep returning to the subject. I hope people, but also Centre will continue to be active in this field for years to come.

Finally, I would like to thank all of you for what you have done, for the effort you have put in and for the concern you have shown, first of all to those who have guided and led the centre – Kadri Liik, Martin Hurt, Jüri Luik, Sven Sakkov, Indrek Kannik and Kristi Raik – thank you. 

And of course, many thanks to all the others who have worked at the Centre or who are now putting their minds to good use here. Now, 20 years later, the chambers are brighter, thoughts are clearer, and there are more people involved. If only it were like this everywhere in Estonia.

Thank you all. I wish you free spirit and success in your efforts! 

Keep up the good work!