President Alar Karis spoke to the newspaper Lääne Elu about foreign policy. He said that Estonia focuses on the current day, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lacks the capacity to look further ahead. There is a lack of people, skills, and knowledge.
Karis said that the president has a choice to make. He can move forward or rely on what is thought in the cabinet. The president has no power; decisions are made elsewhere.
The president said that the war will end someday. Then the question arises whether Estonia has friends further away. Currently, the focus is on today, but there is also a need to look further ahead. This capacity is lacking in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Karis added that he swallows all comments about himself. No one has ever checked his foreign policy knowledge. He said that sometimes one must also swallow unfair things.
The president emphasized that he highly values the contribution of Estonian diplomats. The international environment is becoming more complex. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs additional resources. Without diplomats, the current position would not have been achieved.
In February, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and Prime Minister Kristen Michal criticized the president. They accused the president of deviating from official foreign policy on Ukraine-related topics. Tsahkna and Karis's relationship had already been tense before.
The presidential elections will take place this September.