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Tapa, Estonia, July 19, 2024 /ChatnewsTV/ — In a visit to the Tapa Military Base, High Representative and Vice-President Josep Borrell highlighted Estonia’s exemplary role in bolstering NATO’s deterrence capabilities. During his remarks, Borrell emphasized the importance of NATO troops’ presence in Estonia, citing the strategic necessity of deterring Russian aggression and reinforcing security commitments to allies, particularly Estonia.
“I am very grateful to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia, my colleague and friend Margus Tsahkna, and to Colonel Tarmo Kundla for their unwavering commitment,” Borrell began, acknowledging the leadership and dedication of Estonian officials. “Estonia is a good example. Estonia is increasing its military defence, spending more, and increasing its military capacity.”
Borrell’s speech underscored the pressing need for all NATO and European Union members to follow Estonia’s lead. “For years, we believed that war was not going to happen. Unhappily, it happened in Ukraine. We were not expecting Russia to attack Ukraine, and they did,” he stated, highlighting the unpredictability and reality of current geopolitical tensions.
With the fierce battle in Ukraine as a backdrop, Borrell called for enhanced support for the Ukrainian defense efforts. “Ukrainians need our support. In order to support them, we have to have military capacity, a stronger defence industry, and the political will to do that,” he asserted.
Estonia’s proactive measures, including increasing its defense industry capacities and providing substantial support to Ukraine, were praised as a model for other European nations. “Everybody in Europe, and the European Union, has to do the same thing. It is not because we want war. We do not want war. We want peace – but we want a just peace,” Borrell emphasized.
He reiterated the European Union’s stance on seeking a peaceful resolution that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “The European Union is not looking for war; we are not the ‘war’ party. We are looking for peace, but peace has to be based on Ukraine’s survival, on its sovereignty, and on its territorial integrity,” Borrell declared.
In closing, Borrell expressed his satisfaction with the collaborative efforts of NATO allies at the Tapa Military Base. “I am happy to be here to show and to see how the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Estonians are – together – providing a deterrence and defence capacity to this country, as a NATO member, as a European Union member.”
Borrell was received on the base by the Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia.
