Defense
AI
Kaljulaid: Europe Must Fund Its Own Defense as US Reliability Falters
Former Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid is advocating for Europe to develop independent defense capabilities within NATO and unify its capital markets, arguing that shifts in global power and the unpredictability of United States foreign policy necessitate strategic autonomy.
- —Former Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid emphasizes the need for Europe to develop independent defense capabilities within NATO, citing global power shifts and the unreliability of sole reliance on the United States.
- —Kaljulaid highlights the fragility of democracy, stating it requires courageous individuals to speak out, and criticizes the current state of checks and balances within the U.S. political system.
- —She points to a lack of long-term energy planning in Estonia as a reason for playing catch-up on renewables and storage, and suggests practical, family-friendly solutions are needed to address the low birth rate.
- —Kaljulaid discusses Europe's economic challenges, particularly the need for unified capital markets to foster innovation and compete with the U.S. and China, and criticizes overly complex EU regulations.
- —She advocates for strengthening NATO's eastern flank through regional cooperation, such as the Nordic-Baltic Eight and Poland, and stresses the importance of Europe funding its own defense.
Recap
The call for European strategic autonomy reflects a fundamental reassessment of transatlantic security, driven by the perception of an unreliable U.S. and the rise of China. This imperative links military self-reliance directly to economic competitiveness and the resilience of democratic institutions, framing them as interconnected pillars of survival in a multipolar world.