ICDS Tallinn

🎉 Twenty years ago today, Montenegro voted to regain its independence and restore its statehood. A historic moment that shaped the country’s future. Jakov Milatović #LennartMeriConference

"Europe needs to stop listening to the official voice of Washington." The Washington official voice gives terrible analysis as it represents the political interests of Washington, says Phillips O’Brien. @phillipspobrien.bsky.social #LennartMeriConference

Looking at the world from Greece: every theatre of conflict we are facing is linked to the other. — @elenalaz.bsky.social, Director General at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy #LennartMeriConference

This is no longer the 60s and 70s. We are ageing societies; we have gone soft, most of us—not Estonia, of course. — Bruno Tertrais, Deputy Director of the Foundation for Strategic Research. @brunotertrais.bsky.social #LennartMeriConference

"Europe has the second largest defence budget in the world. This is no longer a debate about money, it's about using this money for military purposes" Together, we are able to be strong. We are not yet strong together, says Thomas Röwekamp. #LennartMeriConference

It matters what small states do, because without our own agency and determination to be where we are and to be part of Europe, we would not exist as neighbours of Russia. — Kristi Raik stressed that small-state agency matters. @kristiraik.bsky.social #Estonia #LennartMeriConference

If an agreement foresees obligations to Ukraine to hold elections we should mirror this to Russia Russia is the problem that is constantly attacking neighbouring countries. — @kajakallas.bsky.social in conversation with @edwardluce.bsky.social #LennartMeriConference

"We can’t be the ones who are begging Russia to talk to us." Russia hoped talks with the Americans would achieve what it couldn’t on the battlefield, but that hasn’t worked because we’ve continued supporting Ukraine on the battlefield. @kajakallas.bsky.social #LennartMeriConference

Should Gerhard Schröder be negotiating on Ukraine? Yes... He should represent Russia. @kajakallas.bsky.social @edwardluce.bsky.social #LennartMeriConference

You cannot allow yourself to become dependent in a critical area on an actor that could use your dependency as a political weapon. That is the rule. — Kęstutis Budrys, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania #LennartMeriConference

China has become a robust trade partner, but we still face issues, such as continued incursions into Philippine waters. However, tensions must be resolved through diplomacy. — Maria Theresa Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines #LennartMeriConference

India has developed its diplomatic relations with the US, the EU, and Russia separately and on merit. We have come a long way from being isolated. — Harinder Sekhon, Distinguished Fellow at CUTS International #LennartMeriConference

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the presence of North Korean troops have demonstrated the shared security challenges facing the two regions. — Angus Campbell, Ambassador of Australia to the European Union, NATO, Belgium, and Luxembourg #LennartMeriConference

We view North Korea–Russia military cooperation as a very serious security threat. — Yoon-jeong Baek, Deputy Director-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea #LennartMeriConference

The European Union is mainly seen as an economic partner in the Indo-Pacific while seeking to project itself in the region as a security actor. — Tara Varma, Managing Director of Strategic Foresight and Director of the @gmfus.bsky.social Paris Office @taravarma.bsky.social #LennartMeriConference

Warfare has changed. Military power is democratised. Big powers can't win wars like they used to. — Jennifer Kavanagh, Director and Senior Fellow of Military Analysis at Defense Priorities. #LennartMeriConference

The most effective security guarantee for Ukraine is NATO membership. But the discussion should also include the security guarantees Ukraine can provide to Europe, because security works both ways. — Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia #LennartMeriConference

Ukraine is buying us time, and we should thank them every day for this, says Sebastian Hartmann, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence of Germany. #LennartMeriConference

Russia is losing. It is much weaker than expected. We could see it on the May 9 parade. It was almost begging for a ceasefire. — Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine #LennartMeriConference

Despite the challenges around us, Jordan is growing economically, culturally, and educationally. It hasn't been easy, but the key has been our partnerships, including with the EU. — Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan #LennartMeriConference

Russia blackmailed us with energy, so no matter how costly the transition was, it was necessary. It is better to pay higher prices and be sure that we have energy than to risk being left without it, says Maia Sandu, President of Moldova. #LennartMeriConference

Resilience is not a Finland matter, not a Estonian matter, not a small country matter. It is a matter for all of us. There is a wider transformation going on. — @haukkala.bsky.social, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs @fiia.fi #LennartMeriConference

Rhetorically, we're on the right track. But in everything we do, we are far too slow. The military leaders are looking at the timeline of 2029, but we are in the middle of 2026, says Carlo Masala. @carlomasala1.bsky.social Fortune Favours the Brave #LennartMeriConference

Even if the war comes to an end one day, we need to continue helping Ukraine and increasing our own capabilities. We can't go back to 1%. — Hanno Pevkur, Minister of Defence of Estonia @modestonia.bsky.social #LennartMeriConference

When Trump was elected, he said God had a plan and wanted to bring him back to the White House and save the United States, but he only told half the truth. — Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania #LennartMeriConference

"I have great admiration for Estonia and its people, and my personal feelings aside, we at NATO have great respect for what Estonia is doing." — Boris Ruge, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy of NATO #LennartMeriConference

When I look at NATO I see a Schrödinger's NATO: the US is inside and outside of NATO at the same time, and we won't know until we open the box. But by then, I think, it will be too late. — @jpuglierin.bsky.social, Senior Policy Fellow and Head of @ecfr.eu Berlin Office #LennartMeriConference

There's four US ambassadors here, and if that doesn't tell you about US commitment to the region, I don't know what will. We are not going anywhere, you'll continue to see changes but we will do it in lockstep with our partners, says Thomas G. DiNanno. #LennartMeriConference

"From the practical side, NATO works very well, its like a Swiss watch, its expensive but it works." In Estonia, its not customary to be optimistic about anything, but with NATO we are, said Kristen Michal. @kristenmichalpm.bsky.social #LennartMeriConference