The March issue of Diplomaatia focuses on two main topics – Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the 10th anniversary of Estonia’s EU and NATO accession.
In the opening article, Kadri Liik, senior researcher at the ECFR think tank, describes the strategic significance of the current Ukraine crisis on the future of international relations.
Also in this issue, Timothy Snyder peers through the fog of propaganda surrounding the crisis in Ukraine, while Ivan Krastev explores the background behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s motives.
Estonian Ministry of Defence Under Secretary for Defence Policy Sven Sakkov surveys Estonia’s first ten years as a NATO member and examines how current events in Ukraine impact the European security situation. Providing Article Five defense should again become NATO’s central function, Sakkov argues.
The NATO topic is continued in an interview with Jüri Luik, the Estonian ambassador to Russia, who has held positions as Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The biggest lesson of the last 10 years, according to Luik: don’t assume that any international or economic developments have rendered military conflict impossible.
Estonia’s current Foreign Minister Urmas Paet summarizes Estonia’s experience to date as an European Union member. “What has accession to the EU given Estonia? The short answer is: freedom, security and well-being,” writes Paet. In the decade ahead, Estonia plans to channel European Union investments into education, employment, the economy, the environment and energy sector, transport and information technology.
Journalist Anvar Samost also writes about the European Union. Samost argues that Estonia has what it takes to become a success story on the order of Finland. To do so, Samost says, the country will need openness, inspiring politicians and a strong Europe.
This article was published in ICDS Diplomaatia magazine.