Kaja Kallas, Europe’s Top Diplomat, Isn’t Diplomatic Enough

In 2021, when Russia began collecting forces along its borders with Ukraine, then German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested that the European Union invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to a summit. Kaja Class – then the Prime Minister of Estonia, a country of 1.3 million – acquired the idea. Instead of changing the behavior of the Russian president, Europe must realize that he has been acting completely constantly for years, since the inclusion of Crimea in 2014.

The suggestion was dropped, but Class rose in place. Its history proved its right as Russia was rolling in the tanks in an attempt to take Kiev in early 2022, and considered that she was the right woman at the appropriate time to get out of domestic policy and put them at the highest level of the European Union. Its reputation has been deprived as the lines of Russia from the opportunity to lead the NATO military alliance, but it was handed over as an alternative to the option: the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs.

But the direct talk that brought the Estonian leader to the spotlight did not serve it well in its new role.

“We expect it to be, more diplomatic,” said a diplomat based in the European Union.

Another added: “She is a policeman more than the diplomat.” “It begins and ends with Russia.”

Her tendency to say what is going on in her mind may strain relationships with the Trump administration and also other major powers, such as India and China. She recently visited Qatar to meet her Iranian counterpart, but she did so as a mediator instead of an active negotiator. Federica Mogherini, the best diplomat in the European Union in 2015, was widely credited with its skills in negotiating the American nuclear deal of Iran that year. Khalaf Mogherini, Josep Borrell, tried to revive the deal when US President Donald Trump withdrew from one side in 2018 and was a prominent voice against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

Moreover, Kallas was unable to lift the consensus on one of the most important files-Israel’s struggle-and even it seems to be marginalized on Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron; German Counselor Friedrich Mirz; NATO President Mark Root; To some extent, even the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Lin, has become the faces of the United Europe.

Root, who is also a former prime minister, managed to attract attention during the summer as he succeeded in keeping Trump on board with NATO and persuaded member states to raise their defensive spending. Von der Lin concluded a trade deal with the United States, which – criticized – at least temporarily reduces tensions between the European Union and the United States. Meanwhile, Class was “marginalization” in this process, because she was largely seen in Washington, as one of the diplomats said.

However, she must wrestle with a unique group of challenges as she tries to coordinate foreign policy of 27 member countries without enough authority to talk about it.

Under the leadership of Callas, the European Union was able to conclude a deal with Israel calling for more assistance to Gaza. The diplomatic service of the European Union, which is the service of European external procedures (EEAS), has praised the agreement as the victory of Class.

In response to a question Foreign policy At a daily press conference.

Two weeks ago, Anouni presented a detailed description of the aid that Europe sent to the region by the beginning of September.

He said Foreign policy That “2,904 trucks entered” and “Jordan and Egyptian roads” were reopened. An increasing amount of fuel entered Gaza, while “vital infrastructure reforms” improved, adding that “access to water at the desalination plant in southern Gaza is also working.” He said that Israel was expected to do more, but he added that the shipments would continue: “In August, a ship carrying 1200 [metric] Tons of aid left from Limassol, Cyprus. “

Class himself claimed her success and responded to her predecessor, Borrell, to achieve “nothing” despite all his condemnation of Israel.

“We were able to obtain humanitarian assistance to Gaza,” Calis said.

She later said in an interview with the government with the Israeli government: “Look at what we have achieved. We are working with the Israeli government to reach a human understanding and to take tangible measures,” she said later in an interview with the government with the Israeli government. Foreign policy Ravi Agrawal Editor -in -Chief on September 23. “This is not enough, but it is better than scratch.”

Some aid is definitely better than nothing. But while scientists accuse Israel of committing genocide, some Europeans prefer to take a tougher ethical position.

Iran, the former Israeli National Security Adviser, said that, in his opinion, the Israeli authorities may have decided to reformulate the aid strategy in Gaza on its own.

He told me on the phone: “Class played a role in the way we are talking about, but it is not the reason behind the arrival of aid or anything else.” He added: “But of course, Germany is our main ally in the region, so what Berlin says is taken into account.”

Badly is the person who blames if European member states are reluctant to act against Israel. On September 16, she referred to fingers in Germany and asked the country to provide “alternatives” if she continues to oppose the options she suggested. In reviewing the agreement of the European Union agreement for Israel, which was requested by member states, the Kallas team presented a set of 10 options for the sanctions that ranged between the suspension of preferential definitions-the European Union is the largest commercial partner for Israel-to suspend travel without a visa in addition to research and scientific cooperation measures.

But to implement any of these, either consensus, or at least approval of 15 countries representing 65 percent of the European Union population. This can only be achieved with support from Italy or Germany. Both are steadfast.

Among the restrictions facing Class is her rank, which she puts a step less than the President of the European Commission and the leaders of the major European economies. Other Europeans who are keen to make a mark on the world theater are often overwhelmed. Early September, von der Layen proposed to punish the Israeli ministers “extremist” in addition to suspending partial trade covered in the European Union Association’s agreement.

One of the European Union diplomats who spoke on the condition of anonymity, “Class has set the basic work of many of the ideas that the head of the committee presented in its speech,” wrote one of the European Union diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Macron also varyed Calass. He was credited with leading the so -called coalition from The Roach, a group of 30 countries that participated to help Ukraine and monitor peace as soon as the ceasefire with Russia was followed.

The European Union diplomat added: “The inputs of the European Union were prepared to the alliance of those wishing for several months by Class with the defense and foreign ministers.”

A few days ago, Class itself won a small victory: she said that the European Union had achieved 80 percent of the proposed artillery shell to Ukraine, a plan that was revealed for the first time in March. at that time , Politico He cited many European Union diplomats and officials who accused Class of transgression and “behavior as prime minister.” Other reports stated that her plan may reduce her size.

But it seems that the biggest challenge for Callas is to maintain relations with the United States, whether it is because the Trump administration does not see that it is important enough to interact with or because of its diplomatic mistakes.

In February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled a decision with Kallas at the last minute. After that, after the general dispute in the Oval Office between Trump and Ukrainian President Folodimir Zelinsky later that month, Class moved to X and said in a huge position: “The free world needs a new leader.”

“The position” did not help in relations with the United States. “

Kristen Birzena, an older colleague of the German Marshall Fund in the United States, said Class is the only European leader to have a mandate to formulate a foreign policy for the European Union. But the product of its independence is “not a way for the nearest relations with Washington.”

Class has no lost love for Beijing and New Delhi, both of whom buy huge quantities of fuel from Russia, the country that prefers isolated. But it seems that the feeling is often mutual. The spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, was astonished at the dismissal of Class, the phenomenon of the Chinese military role during the Second World War, and said that Class’s statement “is competing and starkly confrontation”, and undermines the interests of the European Union, which is “in principle and unprecedented.”

Indian experts objected to its post on X calling for restraint amid skirmishes in this country with Pakistan, and some saw its recent comments on Europe that adopts the “islands” and “sticks” approach with India, where it revealed a new strategic agenda as unnecessary cruel.

Kanwal Sibal, the former Indian Foreign Minister, wrote in a post on X, adding: “Kaja Callas has been subjected to an uncharacteristic position for her,” adding, adding, “It contributes to the geopolitical erosion in Europe by Pararanoia, the Russian hostility.”

Class at least tried to comply with the signal policy with Washington by calling for the end of the Iranian nuclear program, and that the message from its office was that she met Rubio in a group of seven ministers abroad and that relations with the United States are good. But it is not one to be able to butter.

After months of the failure of the anti -speech tweets, she said when I was asked about providing weapons to us to Ukraine: “If you promise to give weapons, but you say that another person will pay for them, this does not really give you, right?” This comment contrasts sharply with NATO President Roti amending Trump as “my father” Europe.

“It is direct and honest,” said EEAS official, and “if you expect a comprehensive compliment, you will not get it from it.”

European Union diplomats who Foreign policy I spoke that Kallas is the team player and only interested in accomplishing the mission, not to obtain credit. However, many observers agreed that it needs a kind of winning that exceeds its explicit style.

Then again, it may have been paid less with success as a coordinator of European diplomats, but rather as a European politician who defends strategic independence in particular. In this sense, if the danger of tyranny is required not only in Russia but also on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, this may not be an accident.