The security policy shift in Brussels is clear. During all previous years since the post of EU Foreign Minister was introduced in 2010, the job has been held by a social democrat – the last ten years also from Southern Europe.
Now, instead, a 47-year-old right-liberal from Estonia is at the helm of EU foreign policy, in the form of Kaja Kallas. She also has conservative Finnish Henna Virkkunen responsible for digital security and conservative Lithuanian Andrius Kubilius as defense commissioner by her side.
Kallas, who once considered a career as a golf caddie, unlike her predecessors, is also entering the job as a former head of government, with experience from top meetings within both the EU and NATO.
Silenced Merkel
As Prime Minister of Estonia from 2021, Kallas quickly became internationally known. She made sure to arrive early at various top meetings and offered waiting journalists sharp statements against Russia in good English. This gave her significantly more attention than little Estonia usually gets.
She was also offensive during the meetings.
The news site Politico Europe tells how she, as a newcomer in 2021, to everyone's great surprise, clashed with Germany's then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, who wanted to invite Russia's President Vladimir Putin to a top meeting with the EU.
What's the point of a top meeting? What's it supposed to be about? said a cool Kallas – and got Merkel to scrap the idea.
Veto from Hungary
But speaking for Estonia is one thing, being the spokesperson for the entire EU is another. As Foreign Minister, Kallas must weigh her words much more and preferably ensure that all countries pull in the same direction.
She has already experienced her first veto – when Hungary last week refused to agree to sanctions against Georgian ministers and police chiefs.
Even in countries like France, Germany, and Italy, there are critics who believe that Kallas is too negatively inclined towards Russia – and also too focused on that policy. Her open statement that the EU wants Ukraine to win the war has been questioned as a more hawkish stance.
But she has no problem hitting back.
Can you really argue against that goal? Is there really anyone who thinks Russia should win? she stated at an event in Brussels in early December.
Kaja Kallas (born 1977) has been the EU's Foreign Minister since December 1, 2024.
She was previously Prime Minister of Estonia 2021-24, party leader of the liberal Reform Party 2018-24, and EU Member of Parliament 2014-18. Her father Siim Kallas (born 1948) has also been the country's Prime Minister 2002-03 and EU Commissioner 2004-14.
The post of Foreign Minister – formally High Representative in Foreign and Security Policy – has only existed since 2010 and was previously held by British Catherine Ashton (2010-14), Italian Federica Mogherini (2014-19), and Spanish Josep Borrell (2019-24).
