Esteemed President of the Riigikogu,
Esteemed members of the 20th of August Club,
Freedom is not something that can be taken for granted: it is something we must strive for. But it is also something which is worth that effort, and we must work consistently and tirelessly to maintain it. Freedom is like oxygen in that you only notice its absence when it is too late.
Restoring our independence posed a great many challenges. We set about running our own country, restoring a free economy, building up our defences and securing our place in the international community.
None of this was easy. We can take immense pride in what we have achieved and the decisions we have made. We are a strong, modern, democratic country. This year marks two decades since we joined the European Union and NATO.
But regaining our independence was not just a political achievement: more than anything else, it was an intellectual and moral victory. It was proof that the thirst for freedom cannot be quenched and that the collective will of the people is stronger than any repressive regime. It was a moment in which we affirmed our right to decide our own destiny; when justice prevailed over falseness and violence.
Unfortunately, history tends to repeat its darkest chapters, as if to remind us. Where we are today is overshadowed by the knowledge that the free and democratic world is on day 909 of its struggle against the evil that is the Putin regime’s war against Ukraine and its people.
We must do everything we can to ensure that Ukraine wins that war, and we must also stand up for the safety and security of people in Estonia. At a time when Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom, and for the freedom of Europe as a whole, we must take greater steps to ensure our own security.
Ukraine’s war of liberation against Russia has given our Defence Forces more precise knowledge of what Estonia needs in order to prevent an enemy attack, or to make it so horrific and so costly for them that it has no chance of success. To this end, Estonia must acquire the best weapons systems and sufficient modern ammunition to which the enemy has no answer.
Lessons from the war in Ukraine have led to a need to cover rising defence costs. While our level of defence spending in 2022 was 2.16% of GDP, this year it is 3.4%. This represents an increase of 550 million euros. In total, we are looking to invest 4 billion euros more in national defence and internal security over the next five years compared to pre-war levels.
For Estonia’s security, we must acquire ammunition that hits further and more accurately, complete the construction of our border and establish other capabilities we need. We must do this to reassure our people that Estonia will endure and that it is a place where you can raise a family and do anything you set out to do. This is a message to our allies, who know they can count on us, as well as to the enemy, who knows not to doubt our resolve.
Yes, establishing certainty is expensive, and everyone must contribute to it. But uncertainty is even more costly. Insecurity stifles growth and puts decisions on hold; it fails to keep people together and bring in those we need and await. Certainty about our country – the knowledge that we are secure and independent – is all we need for Estonia to grow and develop. This is what we must create.
I call on everyone to look to the future with the same hopefulness as those before us did at pivotal times. Together, we can preserve and advance the values that are the very foundation of our country and nation: freedom, justice and democracy.
Let us look out for one another, keep our country safe and build our security together.
Long live Estonia! Long live the 20th of August Club!
