Leaders of Finland, Latvia, and Estonia have called on NATO to end “endless debates” about how to respond to the Russian threat. They emphasized that Ukraine’s victory over Russia is vital for securing Europe, which they argued is insufficiently prepared for potential conflict without the involvement of the United States. This was reported by The Independent.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs stated that the Alliance must rely more on its own capabilities, as “we are not ready” for independent defense. He highlighted Europe’s overdependence on the U.S. for security and stressed the shortcomings of Europe’s defense industry, which he said “cannot deliver at the necessary scale.”
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas added that Europe must strengthen its defense potential to counter the threat posed by Russia, which has demonstrated its inability to function as a democratic state or adhere to international norms.
Finland, Estonia, and Latvia, the only NATO members sharing land borders with Russia, are among the Alliance’s top defense spenders.
While no European leader explicitly suggested a U.S. exit from NATO, concerns were raised that Washington might redirect its focus to the Indo-Pacific region due to escalating tensions with China.
This appeal underscores the urgency of enhanced European collaboration in defense. The leaders of these three nations are pushing for swift and decisive action to ensure the region’s security amidst ongoing geopolitical instability.
The call from these three bordering nations highlights the significant challenges facing Europe. It further underlines the critical importance of Ukraine’s victory in securing stability for the democratic world.
