Exclusive: Estonia’s ex defence minister on India’s role in global politics

In an exclusive interview with India Today Global, Estonia’s Former Defence and Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu discusses pivotal issues shaping global politics. From Estonia’s unique diplomatic connection with India post-1998 nuclear tests to India’s role in the Ukraine conflict and its potential partnership with NATO, Reinsalu shares candid insights into pressing international concerns.

Reinsalu also pointed to a largely unknown connection between India and Estonia. He stated that Estonia was one of the few countries that kept up its diplomatic outreach with India in the aftermath of India’s 1998 nuclear tests -which attracted much criticism in the Western world.

“Estonia’s first president Lennart Meri was the first head of state to pay a state visit to India after the 1998 nuclear tests. He faced some criticism in that context,” said Reinsalu, who worked closely with Meri. President Meri is widely regarded as a national hero in Estonia.

Reinsalu – who has served as Estonia’s Defence and Foreign Minister – also called on India to take a clearer stance on the Ukraine war. “India is a global player and it has a strategic trajectory in world affairs. I believe it is a great need of mankind that India takes a clearer political stance towards the aggressor state Russia. Business transactions with an aggressor state could be interpreted as encouraging that state but also practically encouraging them by providing monetary and technological leverage,” he said.

Reinsalu also backed a closer relationship between NATO and India. “The share of democracies on earth is diminishing and this is also true in terms of their military capability. Democracies need to invest in their military industry and ammunition and in the global security dialogue given the tectonic threats rising in Asia.”