Mihkelson stressed the importance of strong allied relations and NATO unity

Mihkelson said at the meeting with Republican Senators Rick Scott and Mike Lee that the threat from Russia and China, and tensions in many parts of the world, had led the Alliance into one of its most challenging periods since the Second World War. “Putin believes strongly that to go down in history, Russia must conquer, expand, kill and threaten. His aim is not only destroying Ukraine as a state, but also dismantling NATO and the existing security architecture of the whole Europe,” Mihkelson stated. In his opinion, China is also involved in the plans to change the world order.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee underlined the need to continue providing strong support and military assistance to Ukraine and to ensure that Ukraine remained a sovereign state. “We must keep in mind that Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine is not an isolated local process. Russia’s shadow war against the West has been going on for years. Force is the only answer that Russia understands,” he said.

According to Mihkelson, the West must show Russia that aggression does not pay, because otherwise their ambitions will not be limited to Ukraine. He said that for this reason, Estonia had sharply increased its defence spending, which would be at least five per cent of GDP from the next year, and had consistently supported Ukraine. “We understand that it is dangerous to remain alone. This is why we are investing, carrying out defence procurements and the necessary capability developments, and supporting strong partnerships with like-minded countries in Europe and North America,” he noted, adding that Estonia also stood for raising the defence spending target agreed upon in NATO.

Mihkelson believes that protecting trans-Atlantic security and NATO unity is of utmost importance today. “Your presence in Europe and on NATO’s eastern flank, as well as a strong and united allied space, will also work as a deterrent to Russia, who would like to see the Alliance divided and weak,” Mihkelson said at the meeting with US senators, and called for strengthening transatlantic cooperation also in energy.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
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Link uudisele: Mihkelson stressed the importance of strong allied relations and NATO unity

Source: Parliament of Estonia