Introductory remarks at LMC - Building Forward: Small but Resilient

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning. It is a pleasure and honour to lead with some introductory remarks on this panel, which is both prominent and necessary. I am happy to greet the presidents, President Sandu and President Milatovic and Minister Safadi. It's important that the research community represented by Mr Haukkala is involved to enrich the discussions, and my best regards go to Madame Sylvie Kauffmann who is always at her best as a moderator of engaging discussions. The topic - Building Forward: Small but Resilient - is also well chosen, as small nations face a number of old and new challenges in the turbulent world we are living in today.

Nations referred to as Small Nations are somewhat new in the world arena. They got their birthright mainly in the 20th century, after the cataclysms of both World Wars and the end of the Cold War. Today, if we count only those who are members of the United Nations, more than half of our nations are considered small. In an organisation where every member has a voice and vote, it should be a considerable power. Of course there are limits, but still, small players have the possibility to punch over their weight. The question is - are they willing to?

Today's world, which works favourably for small states - as well as the bigger ones - is changing. Geopolitics are back, leading from a position of strength is becoming commonplace, laws and rules that seemed universal are being bent. This poses a challenge for small nations, to put it mildly. Principles that have kept our world functioning, kept it together, are showing signs of weakening. Something new is emerging. There have always been wars and conflicts, but the magnitude of the present ones and the fact that more than one of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council are directly involved is worrying.

Friends,

Could Small Nations make a difference in a world where big powers dominate? Estonian philosopher Uku Masing once wrote: The smaller nations have a broader horizon precisely because they cannot get past the existence of the bigger ones. It means that we have the opportunity to understand the emerging change quicker and warn others about the possible consequences. It means that we have to stand up and speak out, using all meaningful international institutions and forums for this end. Our current law- and rules-based world is worth preserving!

We all have heard, and some of us have seen for ourselves, that small is beautiful. What is behind this beauty? Small nations can be more agile in getting things done. Small nations can also act as an example and inspire others, including bigger ones. Small nations are less prone to compromise their values and are always ready to move towards a consensus that secures those values.

First, agility. A large oil tanker is much more difficult to manoeuvre than a small cargo ship. This applies also to Nations. One example is defence and security, concerning defence expenditures that should relieve us, both small and big, from excessive dependence and create a certain autonomy and enhance security. Small states have been able to be quick and principled

in increasing their defence spending. Some have already reached 5% of GDP, others have made clear plans to get there. This has also inspired others, medium-sized and larger nations, to gradually move in this direction. Small states were also first ones to organise political and practical support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. In this respect, agility has been a value in itself.

Second, being an example to others in experiencing and creating something unimaginable. Here I would like to highlight Estonia and a project started a few decades ago called Tiger Leap. A decade after its launch the world's first e-government was established, where all government services were and still are available to every citizen via an electronic platform. As a long-term result, this project created an Estonian digital ecosystem that was able to cope with global competition and birth numerous startups and unicorns.

Tiger Leap also inspired a new project called AI-Leap, with a system for integrating new technology into primary and secondary schools and prepare our youth for the times to come, whether on the labour market, in research and development or in governance. E-governance inspired others, globally so. It did not just bring admiration but also influenced others to act.

Third, resilience. With the agility and the courage to take unprecedented steps, small states are better prepared to tackle challenges and make themselves ready for different contingencies that might emerge in a world of uncertainties. Moldova, Montenegro and Jordan are good examples where we have seen quick and successful responses to asymmetric threats applied in hybrid ways. My own country has faced cyber-attacks, destruction of critical infrastructure, occasional airspace violations by fighter aircraft, shadow fleets, information operations and the spread of disinformation, as well as migration pressures on the border, to name some.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have been helped by our agile responses and somewhat novel approaches to tackle problems, but none of this this would have been possible without the support of others. Cooperation based on common interests is of utmost importance. It multiplies our strength, enhances determination, and leads us more confidently to our goals. A good example of this is the format called the Nordic-Baltic 8 - NB8 for short. This community consists of only small nations, yet they have managed to create one of the happiest, most stable and peaceful regions in the world. I am pleased that this has been possible, and because it has been possible, it can be done elsewhere as well.

In conclusion, I would like to draw the broader picture.

As I said, the world order centred around the United Nation system -not ideal one, but which manmade system is? - and the principles written into the charter have served small nations well. It created a sort of balance where everyone who wanted to be involved could be involved, have a say and voice. And procedures are built so that great powers must take into account and listen to the smaller ones, and cannot just run them over. This system is now passing the stress test. Where we will end up remains to be seen. If we really want to have an international system where size is not everything, where even the smallest nations can allow themselves the pursuit of happiness, where disputes can be resolved in a peaceful way, where institutions provide a venue for building a consensus or at least easing differences, we have to seize every opportunity to protect the system that has brought us through the past 80 years. The situation is too dire for us to wait for a miracle. Thank you!