Washington, July 11, 2024 – During the NATO Summit in Washington, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized the necessity of fortifying NATO’s collective defense against ongoing threats from Russia, while underscoring the alliance’s commitment to key defense capabilities and substantial support for Ukraine.
Significant resolutions were made at the summit, building on previous decisions from Madrid and Vilnius.
“Ahead of this summit, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania proposed focusing on three priority areas for the development of NATO’s capabilities: ammunition, air defense, and long-range fires,” Prime Minister Kallas explained.
She expressed satisfaction that allies committed to investing in these areas over the next five years, alongside a pledge to enhance transatlantic defense industrial cooperation and increase production.
Prime Minister Kallas reiterated the need to acknowledge Russia as a major threat.
“Allies agreed that Russia remains the most serious, immediate, and long-term threat to the alliance,” she said.
The summit also discussed Russia’s hybrid activities, with Kallas emphasizing NATO’s necessity to respond firmly, showing that such actions have consequences.
Kallas stressed that Europe’s security depends on the outcome of the war in Ukraine.
“As allies, we must help secure Ukraine’s victory and support Ukraine on its path towards NATO membership,” she urged.
A crucial support package for Ukraine was adopted, signaling to Russia the alliance’s steadfast support for Ukraine. NATO will now lead the coordination of military assistance, logistics, and training for Ukraine, ensuring structured and sustained support.
“The decision taken at the summit to bring coordination of military assistance, logistics, and training for Ukraine under the alliance’s leadership will help place assistance for Ukraine on a firmly structured basis,” Kallas said.
Allied military assistance for Ukraine is projected to reach at least 40 billion euros annually.
“This means that we are assuming responsibility for a common goal – victory for Ukraine – and that Ukraine knows what to expect.”
Prime Minister Kallas affirmed that NATO and Ukraine are closer than ever, with the summit reinforcing Ukraine’s future within NATO.
“With today’s decisions, we have shown that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership is irreversible,” she declared.
She highlighted the importance of eliminating security grey areas in Europe to prevent future conflicts and wars.
Kallas also noted the increasing seriousness of NATO members towards defense investment.
“Defense spending by 23 allies this year should be 2% or more of GDP,” she reported, a significant increase from just three members in 2014. However, she cautioned that 2% is insufficient in today’s security environment.
“All allies must invest 2.5-3% in defense to close the capability gaps and finance the alliance’s plans,” she remarked, advocating for discussions to raise defense spending by the next NATO summit in The Hague.
In addition to threats from Russia, the summit addressed security concerns from the south.
“It is particularly important to maintain our focus on Russia’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel,” Kallas warned.
