Prime Minister Michal at the ABCD Defence Conference: Russia's threat will not go away

Referring to the recent violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets, Michal emphasized the seriousness of the threat and thanked allies for their solidarity: "It was a calculated move to test NATO's resolve. That is why Estonia decided to trigger NATO Article 4 and call for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Russia must know its provocations will not go unnoticed or unanswered. Today our Allies have demonstrated unity and strength in the North Atlantic Council," he said.

According to Michal, the security guarantees offered to Ukraine by the Western coalition of willing nations must go hand in hand with increasing pressure on Russia. "We need tougher sanctions, the use of Russia's frozen assets, and decisive action against Russia's shadow fleet," the Prime Minister stated.

He acknowledged that in order to meet NATO's capability targets, both an increase in European defence spending and a swift development of actual capabilities are required. Estonia, which will raise its defence spending to 5% of GDP starting next year, is setting an example in this regard. Michal also highlighted the growing role of the defence industry: "We're in a race against time. We need new technologies that work: faster, cheaper, smarter."

Emphasising Estonia's contribution, he also noted the creation of a €100 million Defence Industry Fund by the state and called on the EU to cut red tape and market fragmentation that hampers defence procurement.

Michal outlined some key steps to strengthen Europe's defence capabilities: significant contributions of the EU and NATO to the protection of the eastern border of Europe, faster deployment of EU defence instruments and cross-border cooperation in the defence industry.

This time, the ABCD conference takes place within the scope of the Estonian Defence Week, which will bring together over 400 experts, investors and entrepreneurs from NATO countries and elsewhere. The title of the conference is: Enemy at the Gates: Turning Europe into a Fortress.

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