NATO Secretary General with the Prime Minister of Estonia 🇪🇪 Kaja Kallas, 28 JUN 2023

Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, at NATO Headquarters, 28 June 2023.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Estonia to NATO Headquarters for talks to prepare for the Vilnius Summit.

🗣 | NATO Secretary General:

Prime Minister Kallas,
Dear Kaja,
Welcome back to NATO, it’s great to have you here.

We are only two weeks from the NATO Summit in Vilnius.
Where we will take far-reaching decisions to bolster our deterrence and defence, and step up our support for Ukraine.

The mutiny by Wagner mercenaries at the weekend is an internal matter for Russia.
At the same time, it demonstrates once again that President Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine is a big strategic mistake.
It has deepened existing divisions and created new tensions in Russia.

But we should not underestimate Russia.
We must continue to support Ukraine.
And we must keep our defences strong.

To send a clear message to Moscow and Minsk that NATO will protect every inch of Allied territory.

Since 2014, we have significantly reinforced our presence and readiness.
From the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea. Including in Estonia.
NATO’s multinational battle group in Tapa, led by the United Kingdom, helps to deter any aggression.
Just last month, Exercise Spring Storm demonstrated our ability to reinforce our presence in Estonia up to brigade-size level.

Fighter jets and air defences from Allies also help to protect Estonian skies.
And Allies have agreed a new rotational model for air and missile defence, allowing for swift transition from air policing to air defence.
At the Summit, we will take the next steps, with new regional plans.
Assigned forces and capabilities, and an enhanced exercise programme.
All backed by over 300,000 troops on high readiness.

Support for Ukraine is another top priority for the Summit.
I welcome Estonia’s leading role in providing critical aid,
and rallying the international community behind the Ukrainian people.

We need to step up even more.
At the Summit, we will agree a multi-year package of assistance, and upgrade our political ties with Ukraine.
This will bring Ukraine closer to its rightful place in NATO.

We also need to invest more in our security.

At the Summit, I expect we will agree on a more ambitious defence investment pledge.
With 2 percent of GDP as a floor, not a ceiling.

Here too, Estonia is leading by example.
Investing more than 2% of GDP in defence.

The Vilnius Summit will be the first with Finland as a member.
And we are working to finalise Sweden’s accession as well.
Therefore, I have called another meeting of senior officials from Türkiye, Sweden and Finland next Thursday.
The time is now to welcome Sweden as a full member of NATO.

Let me finally mention Kosovo, which was also addressed in our meeting.
Our KFOR mission continues to fulfil its UN mandate impartially.
We call on both parties to refrain from anything that can further escalate tensions.
And return immediately to the EU-facilitated dialogue, which is the only way forward.

So Prime Minister Kallas,
Dear Kaja,
Once again, welcome to NATO, it’s great to have you here and I appreciate very much your leadership.
Thank you so much.
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