In mid-December, Prime Minister Kristen Michal will host the leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) states in Tallinn. At the summit, Prime Minister Michal will recommend to the JEF countries to raise the minimum threshold of defence spending to at least 2.5% of the GDP.
According to Michal, NATO’s defence spending floor of 2% of the GDP is not enough to secure peace in Europe. “If not earlier, then at next year’s summit in the Hague, the minimum defence spending of NATO member states must be raised to at least 2.5% of the GDP,“ said Michal.
“The Joint Expeditionary Force member states know the price of peace and can lead the conclusion of a new defence investment pledge. At the JEF summit, I hope we can take an important step before the Hague and agree on raising the minimum level of defence spending of the 10 NATO countries to at least 2.5% of the GDP. It is only in this way that we can ensure European security, boost the defence capacity of our region, and create necessary forces for collective defence,“ said the prime minister.
The JEF is a defence cooperation format led by the United Kingdom, which includes the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland in addition to Estonia. The Joint Expeditionary Force plays an important role in the deterrence and defence posture of the Baltic Sea region, and the crisis response options developed within the framework of the JEF complement NATO’s activities. The idea of the JEF is to be a first responder before NATO Article 5 is declared. The framework is made up of like-minded countries that are ready to contribute quickly and flexibly to operations ranging from humanitarian crises to conventional warfare.
The Joint Expeditionary Force Leaders’ Summit in Tallinn on 16–17 December will also focus on securing Ukraine’s victory over Russia, which has occupied 20% of Ukraine’s territory to date. “In addition to the development of our own national defence, we must continue to stand by Ukraine. A victory for Ukraine is a victory for all of us – both Europe and the United States. All NATO states should focus not only on developing their own defence capabilities, but also on winning the war in Europe, and allocate at least 0.25% of their GDP for military aid to Ukraine and remove additional restrictions on supplied weapons,“ said Michal.
The support of JEF member states to Ukraine is double compared to the rest of Europe. “Ukraine needs assurance that we will stand by them until victory. At the summit, I propose that we commit to long-term support for Ukraine and allocate at least 0.25% of the GDP of the JEF countries to Ukraine, until the day of their victory.“
According to Michal, defence capability comes down to training, ammunition, and weapons. “In addition to increasing defence spending and support for Ukraine, the production capacity of the European and NATO defence industry is crucial. Being able to produce armament strengthens our deterrence and defence capabilities,“ said the prime minister. “Estonia’s defence industry is developing rapidly, and cooperation with JEF countries offers companies opportunities for innovation, technology testing and cooperation, including with Ukraine,“ said the prime minister.
The heads of government of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Latvia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland, as well as the presidents of Finland and Lithuania, are expected to attend the JEF leaders’ summit in mid-December. The summit marks the 10th anniversary of the JEF, providing an opportunity to assess the JEF’s achievements to date and set goals for the future.
Source: Government of Estonia