Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal believes that all Northern European countries, including those gathered around the Baltic Sea and co-creating the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) group, should spend more than 2.5 percent of GDP on defense. He also noted that “in addition to developing our own defense capabilities, we need to assure Ukraine that we will support it until victory.”
According to the head of the Estonian government, Kristen Michal, “the 2 percent ceiling on defense spending in NATO is no longer sufficient to ensure security in Europe.”
The JEF (Joint Expeditionary Force) group led by the United Kingdom “plays a key role in the deterrence and defense of the Baltic region” and is also a “first response unit” even before the possible application of Article 5 NATO – emphasized in the statement of the Estonian government.
These countries – added the Prime Minister – “know what the price of peace is and are able to achieve this goal”, i.e. spending over 2.5 percent of GDP on defense.
ArmyAndrzej Jackowski/PAP
The JEF Group, established in 2015, consists of 10 countries (Scandinavian countries, the Baltic countries and Great Britain and Netherlands). Currently only Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia they spend between 2.8 and 3.4 percent of GDP on defense.
They spend the most among the Scandinavian countries Finland and Denmark – approx. 2.3 percent each a Sweden and Norway – approximately 2.1-2.2 percent each. In turn, Great Britain spends 2.3 percent and the Netherlands just over 2 percent of GDP. Even though Iceland is part of the group and belongs to NATO, it does not have its own armed forces.
The Prime Minister of Estonia insists on providing support to Ukraine
Michal also pointed out that “in addition to developing our own defense capabilities, we need to assure Ukraine that we will support it until victory.” Currently, he stressed, JEF members allocate “twice as much as the rest of Europe” to aid Kiev.
Earlier this year, the Estonian authorities also decided to regularly allocate 0.25 percent of their own GDP to Ukraine's military needs. It was then emphasized that the success of this initiative depended on the position of other Western countries.
– I propose that the JEF countries also commit to long-term support for Ukraine at this level – said the Estonian Prime Minister. Formally, this initiative is to be presented at the next JEF summit, which will be held in mid-December in Tallinn.
Main photo source: eur.army.mil