Estonia has pledged to transfer 0.25 percent of its GDP to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur emphasized the country's readiness to meet this commitment for at least the next four years, highlighting the high opportunity cost of failing to stop Russian aggression, implying that such expenditures are justified.
However, the acceptance of Estonia's call by a broader international community appears uncertain. Wojciech Lorenz of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, in an interview with PAP, expressed skepticism about the likelihood of other countries making similar commitments. He noted that Estonia, along with Lithuania, has been among the most generous in terms of aid relative to GDP since the conflict began in 2022.
Lorenz recalled that, in times of emergency, it was easier to mobilize public opinion for such aid contributions. He pointed out that Estonia's call for other nations to follow its lead in supporting Ukraine may face challenges, especially as different countries have varying capacities and priorities in foreign aid allocation.
Commenting on the current mood within NATO regarding continued support for Ukraine, Lorenz stressed that "it is in the interest of the vast majority of EU and NATO members to maintain assistance, but it is more difficult to maintain the mobilization we experienced in the first several months of the war."
"At the same time, we are seeing a shift to more planned, coordinated and long-term support," the analyst added.
Source: PAP