Kaja Kallas, Estonia's prime minister, resigned on Monday to take on a new role as the European Union's next foreign policy chief. Known for her firm stance against Russia, her appointment raises questions about her ability to represent the diverse views within the EU.
Since becoming Estonia's prime minister in early 2021, Kallas, 47, has been a vocal critic of Russia's expansionist aims. She has consistently advocated for unconditional support to Ukraine and efforts to contain Moscow, leading Estonia to become one of the highest per-capita military donors to Ukraine.
Kallas has been wanted in Russia since February for her role in removing Soviet-era monuments in Estonia. Born in Tallinn, she is the great-granddaughter of Estonia's first chief of police, who served after the country gained independence from the Russian Empire post-World War One, only to be absorbed into the Soviet Union in 1940.
Her family's history with Russia is deeply personal. In 1949, when Kallas' mother was just six months old, her family was forcibly relocated to Siberia along with 20,000 other Estonians. "Russia hasn't changed," Kallas said last year, marking an anniversary of her mother's exile. "This evil lives on in Russia."
Kallas is well-regarded internationally for her open and straightforward demeanor. However, not all EU countries share her staunch opposition to Russia. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, for instance, has maintained friendly ties with Moscow despite its invasion of Ukraine. Domestically, Kallas faced criticism when it was revealed that her husband's business continued operations in Russia, even as she publicly condemned such actions.
Her government also faced backlash for raising taxes shortly after the 2023 elections and legalizing same-sex marriage, a move opposed by nearly half of Estonia's population.
A second-generation politician, Kallas is the daughter of Siim Kallas, who established Estonia's liberal Reform Party in 1994 and served as the country's prime minister and later as a vice president of the European Commission.
In 2011, Kaja Kallas left her career as a partner at a Tallinn law firm to successfully run for both the Estonian and European parliaments on a Reform Party ticket. Leading the Reform Party since 2018, she became Estonia's first female prime minister in 2021. Known for her determination and policy-driven approach, Kallas has been accused of arrogance by some critics.
Kallas firmly believes that Estonia's security depends on its membership in NATO and the European Union. "If Europe is united and strong, Estonia will also be strong," she told the Estonian parliament in 2022.
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