BRUSSELS ― In light of the ongoing threats posed by Russia, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristjan Michal has called on all European nations to reassess their defense spending commitments. Speaking to POLITICO during the European Council summit, Michal emphasized that even those countries distanced from the conflict in Ukraine must take heed of the situation and respond accordingly.
This appeal follows comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has raised doubts about a fundamental principle of NATO: the collective defense clause, which asserts that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
Defense as a priority for all EU nations
Michal remarked, “These kind of signals probably are messages from Trump that you should take your defense very seriously — so for me it’s quite understandable.” He underscored the importance of investing in defense for what is arguably the wealthiest and most liberated region globally.
Despite these warnings, Michal acknowledged the ongoing challenge of persuading EU nations further from Russia’s borders to prioritize defense spending. Currently, seven EU member states fall short of the NATO guideline of allocating two percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to defense.
“For the public, yes usually people tend to prioritize the news that is closer to you… but right now, we have a situation like that where people neighboring Russia are very acutely involved. This is an opportunity to explain and have this kind of burden sharing,” he explained.
Support for shared defense initiatives
Given Estonia’s geographical proximity to Russia and its historical context—having regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991—Michal expressed his support for French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal for European countries to collectively manage their nuclear capabilities, especially amid the uncertainties surrounding U.S. security commitments.
Following extensive discussions among EU leaders, a series of measures aimed at amplifying defense spending across the continent were approved. However, tensions arose when Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán retracted his support for a joint declaration aimed at bolstering Ukraine following Trump’s announcement of a freeze on military aid.
“In that respect, the policy of Trump is more than right,” Orbán commented when questioned by POLITICO, though he refrained from confirming whether Hungary would exceed its own 2 percent GDP spending target, citing concerns over potential economic repercussions.