WHO SAYS KALLAS SAYS WAR
What follows is my English translation of an article by Fabrizio Bertolami, published on ComeDonChisciotte.org on 4th July 2024. (All formatting original).
Former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has just been appointed EU High Representative of the next European Commission.
The choice was approved by the European Council with the support of the European People's Party, the Socialists and Renew Europe, but there was no unanimity, as Italy, through its President Meloni, failed to give its support.
Ratification will also have to take place by the European Parliament, but given the numbers of the three political families within it, the outcome seems a foregone conclusion.
Her competences and functions are broad, but the High Representative is still not the EU Foreign Minister that many hope for. She has powers, holds the position of vice-president of the Commission, heads an External Action Service of almost 5,600 officials and diplomats, but her budget remains with the European Commission.
Kallas, apart from her role as Prime Minister of Estonia (a nation with 1.5 million inhabitants and a GDP of $30 million, 10 times less than that of Lombardy [the most populous region of Italy and one of the richest]) has not held any international roles so far, but has been noted for her vehement anti-Russian hatred.
The Estonian had already had the chance to hold the position of NATO Secretary, which vanished due to the strong controversy that erupted in Estonia over the role of the company owned by her husband in a series of trade agreements with Russia, not to mention that the Estonian premier's strong anti-Russian streak was not, in any case, well liked in the governmental circles of some countries, which were reluctant to maintain tense relations with Moscow.
Then, in 2024, Russia had put her on its international wanted list, accusing her of destroying monuments dedicated to the memory of Soviet soldiers in Estonia.
In view of the Arrest Warrant issued by Moscow, Kallas will never be able to travel to Russia, which is already a considerable handicap, given that relations with the former Soviet neighbour are the most important geopolitical friction point for the EU at the moment.
Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov commented on the appointment, saying:
“[...] Mrs Kallas has shown no diplomatic inclination so far and is well known in our country for her absolutely uncompromising and sometimes even openly anti-Russian statements”, adding “We therefore do not believe that European diplomacy will contribute in any way to the normalisation of relations. The outlook, as far as relations between Moscow and Brussels are concerned, is very bad”.
The Estonian starts off already crippled, since in the event of future agreements between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, she will have no say, presumably leaving it to the French and German (as well as American) foreign ministers.
If, on the other hand, this peace scenario does not materialise, we can imagine that her policy of sending more and more arms and financial resources to Kiev and sanctions to Moscow will be unbreakable, making the possibility of a lasting end to the conflict even more remote.
By choosing her, the Union is choosing not to rely on Diplomacy to deal with the Russian problem, but it is preparing for war, now only economic, but one day also real, against its powerful neighbour. One wonders what will happen if Trump were to be elected President and decide to end the war in Ukraine through a direct agreement with Russia: at that point the EU would be left holding the bag and burning its fingers.
The only hope, therefore, is that the European Parliament will not ratify her appointment, counting on the negative vote of the pacifist parties but also of some turncoats present in the ranks of the “government parties”, calling for the appointment of a figure more capable of mediation and with a broad international knowledge.
As for the other conflict situation that affects Europe, but on the southern shore, one only has to read the positive comments in the Israeli press to realise that the foreign policy pursued by the new commissioner in that area will not contribute to resolving the conflict, although Kallas has spoken out for a two-state solution for Palestine. Also with regard to relations with China, Kallas has repeatedly stressed that she sees Beijing as a threat and not an opportunity.
With these assumptions, Europe risks isolating itself from the rest of the world, pursuing only a strictly Euro-Atlantic policy.
The European Union, in short, chooses to show its toughest, most intransigent and least dialoguing face to the world, riding the winds of war instead of trying to quell them.
The Europe of the bureaucrats has made its choice, it is now up to the European people, through their elected representatives, to oppose this belligerent drift, or they may regret it in the future, when the situation gets even worse.
by Fabrizio Bertolami for comedonchisciotte.org
REFERENCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaja_Kallas
https://news.err.ee/1608180598/prime-minister-china-appeal-welcome-address-on-concerning-issue
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-says-outlook-eu-russia-ties-is-bad-after-von-der-leyen-kallas-2024-06-28/
https://apnews.com/article/eu-top-jobs-von-der-leyen-costa-kallas-bd2fb3621d3354216f34fa611f576a16
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjndviuur
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-says-outlook-eu-russia-ties-is-bad-after-von-der-leyen-kallas-2024-06-28/
Excellent! this person, indeed, was chosen neither for his geopolitical knowledge nor for his diplomatic talents.
The “quality” (so to speak) retained is its sickly Russophobia, which is in line with NATO’s aggressive policy towards Russia.
Surprising, all the same, the determination of the Scandinavian countries and the Baltic states , to embark on the path of confrontation with their great Russian neighbor!
Russia is going to crush Estonia for a couple of hours!