The chairman of Estonia’s Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, Marko Mihkelson, has urged Western nations to strengthen their collective response to global security threats, during an interview with ABC News while visiting Australia this week as part of a parliamentary delegation.
Marko Mihkelson expressed concern that the West has not done enough to counter Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. “War is going on, and Russians are not even interested in a ceasefire,” he said, noting that Ukraine’s offer of an unconditional ceasefire in March was rejected. He argued that military and economic support must be more robust, including cutting off all energy imports from Russia, which he described as “immoral” while the war continues.
Global interconnections and Australia’s role
Drawing a link between the war in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, Mihkelson stressed that “potential conflict zones are interconnected”, warning that inaction today could lead to “a much more costly situation in years to come”. He praised Australia’s support for Ukraine, highlighting that “an absolute majority supports Ukraine, and also the help given by the Australian Government… is critically important”.
Lessons for the Indo-Pacific
Marko Mihkelson pointed out that countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan should continue strengthening cooperation on security matters, much like NATO allies in Europe. Reflecting on Estonia’s visit to Taiwan last year, he said maintaining stability in the Taiwan Straits and South China Sea is important for the global economy and the rules-based international order.
Call for coordinated action
He emphasised that the defense of Ukraine and the preservation of peace in the Pacific are part of the same challenge — upholding democracy and deterring aggression worldwide. “If we want to maintain stability and a rule-of-law-based world order, then the most critical task is to make sure Russia will not succeed in their aggression,” Mihkelson said.
Strengthening ties
While the interview focused on global affairs, Mihkelson’s visit underscores Estonia’s growing engagement with like-minded partners such as Australia, both in supporting Ukraine and in fostering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
You can watch the full ABC News Australia interview (6 minutes) here: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9srvzm
