Estonian Prime Minister: “Europe should avoid repeating the mistakes of the interwar period and invest in defense now”

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Speaking to a select group of journalists, including from Euronews, ahead of a two-day summit in Brussels where support for Ukraine and European defense will be at the top of the agenda, Kaja Karas told a group of journalists, including those from Euronews, that if Ukraine loses the war , claimed that some European countries could be targeted by Russia. war.

“If we do not want this war to go any further, we must help Ukrainians protect themselves. Clearly, it is not just the European security architecture that is at stake, but also global security. It’s also a structure.

“If we really support Ukraine, we don’t have to worry about who will come next. But if Ukraine collapses, there will be a hiatus of several years, especially when we look at this more broadly. ‘If we don’t invest in defense,’ she said.

He called on countries belonging to the Ramstein Alliance, which includes NATO members, the European Union and 15 other countries around the world, to allocate 0.25% of their gross domestic product to military aid to Ukraine. This “will greatly contribute to Ukraine’s victory over Russia,” she argued.

But she also urged European countries to strengthen their defense systems, as they had in the interwar period.

“By the time you need it, it’s already too late.”

“In 1933, Estonia’s defense investment was at a record low. And why? Because it was peacetime. We were building a country and we were a neutral country. But in 1938, we realized that war was coming. When it was clear (sic), defense investment increased by 100%, but it was already too late,” she said.

“For a small country like Estonia, war always means destruction and human suffering,” she said.

The three Baltic states bordering Russia were invaded by Soviet and Nazi forces during World War II and occupied by neighboring countries from 1944 until they regained independence in 1991.

Karas added that the onus is on leaders to properly explain to voters the need for such increased investment and to make clear that it does not become a pro-war stance.

“The problem with investing in defense, of course, is that it’s very difficult for leaders who have much better neighbors than us to explain to their citizens in peacetime,” she added. By the time the need arises, it is already too late to take further action. ”

“We want peace, but we want a sustainable peace. And peace on Russian terms is not sustainable. That means we will have a hiatus of several years, but , it will go further. It can.

“Aggressors are caused by weakness. That is why I am also advocating at the European level to do more for defense and increase defense investment, because if we see that we are strong enough and strong enough, , for the invader will not take any further steps.” He cannot be defeated.

“If he thinks we are weak enough and can actually win, he might give a different assessment. But we don’t want that. That’s why all of us, not just the European countries, but also the NATO countries… We need to invest in defense,” she said.

funding issues

The 27-nation bloc is in the midst of a massive, massive war. Review of defense policythe European Commission has submitted proposals to increase Europe’s defense industrial capabilities, including through joint procurement.

Many member states are depleting existing stocks to donate to Ukraine, and although European ammunition production is significantly higher than a year ago, the EU is falling short of its goal of providing supplies to the war-torn country. Therefore, the need is even more pressing. 1 million shells by March.

However, opinions are divided among EU leaders on how to finance investment promotion, with many EU member states, which are also NATO members, planning to spend 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense spending again this year. It is predicted that the goals of the military alliance will not be achieved.

Among the most divisive proposals are: so-called euro bonds We will jointly raise funds that will be fully allocated to defense spending.

The EU common debt was first issued to fund a landmark €800 billion post-pandemic recovery plan, but it was initially created by so-called “frugal countries” Austria, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden. was firmly opposed by. They feared that wealthier member states would bear most of the costs and that in the future the EU would rely on that funding option for other non-essential programs. .

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Karas on Wednesday reiterated his support for a Eurobond issue to finance defense projects, although he had previously suggested the amount should reach 100 billion euros.She also supported the following proposals Revise the mandate of the European Investment Bank This is to enable funding for defense projects.

He urged the EU to use the windfall from stuck Russian assets to help defend Ukraine and move forward with plans to further crack down on Russia’s war machine by closing loopholes that allow it to evade sanctions. I asked for it.