Member states of the European Union should increase defense expenditures in order to fit the threats faced by the continent, the head of the Foreign Policy Office warned.
Kaja Kallas, who served as Prime Minister Estonia until July 2024, said, “If the block does not maintain strong defense, all euros spent in school, medical and welfare are vulnerable.”
US President Donald Trump has the right to criticize an average of 1.9 percent European spending, she added.
She also said Russia spent 9%of the total defense gross domestic product (GDP) to defense, and Europe’s spending is “not enough” in light of the Ukrainian war.
“To prevent war, you must spend more costs. Weekend program of BBC World Service.
Kalas also had to cooperate with member states economically to “pressure” Russia economically, suggesting a new sanctions package next month, marking three years of war in Ukraine.
She added that the EU should be “creative” in terms of restricting Russia’s “ability to fight this war,” she added that Putin began, Russian President Vladimir Putin is the way to end this war.
Before the EU post in December, Calas repeatedly demanded a higher level of defense spending while serving as the first female prime minister in Estonia.
In February 2024, she said NATO countries wanted to increase defense spending to 3%of GDP.
The Russian military promised to spend more than 2% of GDP in defense after the Russian army, supported by Ukraine’s southern Crimia Crimean Peninsula and Moscow, controlled a large area in eastern Ukraine in 2014.
As Prime Minister Estonia, Kalas promised KYIV more than 1% of the state’s GDP to strengthen Ukrainian war efforts.
“If all NATO countries have worked, Ukraine will win.” She told the BBC last year.
According to NATO estimated 2024Estonia’s defense spending was the second highest in the military alliance.
In December 2024, NATO Secretary -General Mark Rutte said the member country should “switch to a war accident,” the defense should spend more than 2%.
US President Donald Trump put pressure on NATO member states to increase defense spending during his first term and later demanded that he would meet 4%of GDP later.
Just before the second inauguration in January, Trump urged NATO to spend 5%of the European members, saying to reporters, “They can all afford it.”
When she saw the war in Ukraine’s favor, Callas said it was still alive in her heart.
“I don’t actually see any other options. If we brutal invasion thrive, we’ll see this in other areas of the world,” she added.
She said:
