From the Liveblog of
Friday, June 28, 2024
Estonian PM Kallas named as new EU foreign policy chief
Estonia’s Kaja Kallas has been named as the European Union’s next top diplomat replacing Josep Borrell, whose tenure was marked by outspoken criticism of Israel.
European Union leaders signed off on the appointment of Kallas as part of a deal that keeps German conservative Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission for another five years and names Antonio Costa of Portugal as European Council president.
Kallas is prime minister of her tiny Baltic home country. She comes from the pro-business liberal group, which is also home to embattled French President Emmanuel Macron and lost seats in the June poll, trailing into fourth place.
“This is an enormous responsibility in this time of geopolitical tensions. There’s war in Europe, but there’s also growing instability globally,” Kallas tells reporters.
She and von der Leyen must still be approved by a majority of lawmakers in the European Parliament, which could take place when the newly constituted legislature meets next month.
Kallas, who turns 47 on Tuesday, has made her name as an eloquent critic of neighboring Russia and its expansionist aims since she became Estonian prime minister in early 2021.
An uncompromising voice in the EU and NATO for unconditional support to Kyiv and for containing Moscow, she led her country of 1.4 million people to become among the highest per-capita military donors to Ukraine.
But she is considered largely untested on foreign affairs matters farther from home, including in the Middle East. She has voiced support for Israel’s right to defend itself in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, but has also decried the humanitarian crisis in Gaza since Israel invaded the Strip.
