Isamaa calls on Estonian defmin to explain cuts in national defense spending

TALLINN – Members of the parliamentary group of the opposition Isamaa on Wednesday submitted an inquiry to Minister of Defense Kalle Laanet regarding the state budget strategy approved by the government, which will reduce national defense expenditures by tens of millions of euros in the coming years.

The inquiry points out that compared to the state budget strategy approved by the previous coalition, the government of Kaja Kallas is reducing defense expenditures by 16.6 million euros in 2022, 16.6 million in 2023 and 20 million euros in 2024.

Isamaa chairman Helir-Valdor Seeder said that the government's plan to seek savings at the expense of Estonia's security is unacceptable in the current security situation. "The security situation in Europe and in the world is tense. Therefore, it is very important that Estonia fulfills its international obligations and contributes to cooperation with the allies. At the same time, we must set an example and show that we are also ready to contribute to our own national defense," Seeder said.

He added that it was only in September 2020 that Laanet wrote that the international situation does not allow even thinking about reducing defense costs. "The minister of defense should explain to Estonian society whether and in what way the international security situation has changed in order to allow the reduction of defense expenditures," Seeder said.