Agenda Profile: Leo Kunnas
First reading of the Draft Decision of the Riigikogu (322 OE) "Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to Prepare a Comprehensive National Defence Development Vision Extending up to the Year 2045 and a New Extraordinary National Defence Development Plan Deriving from It, Extending up to the Year 2034"
2024-03-13
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting.
Political Position
A robust focus on the strategic planning and financing of comprehensive national defense. This urgently requires a holistic 20-year vision and a subsequent new extraordinary development plan, designed to avoid the errors of previous plans that focused solely on military defense. It strongly supports maintaining defense expenditures for military national defense at a minimum of 3% of GDP and demands an analogous agreement for financing the other sectors of comprehensive national defense.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
Demonstrates profound expertise in military strategy, force structure, and capability development, utilizing specific terminology (e.g., J1/G1, capabilities catalogue). Presents detailed historical parallels (the "shield and sword" strategy of the War of Independence) and highlights specific acute needs (engineer service, indirect fire, drones/counter-drone capabilities). Sharply criticizes the consolidation of the personnel function into the Defence Resources Agency, calling it an error without precedent in the practice of NATO countries.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The tone is extremely expert, logical, and urgent, emphasizing the need to correct past mistakes and take swift action. It makes extensive use of historical examples and statistical data (e.g., wartime defense force sizes, the attrition rates of professional military personnel) to support its arguments. It criticizes previous decisions (such as "affordable" national defense) and stresses that there is no time for delay given the current security environment.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker actively participates in the legislative process, having initiated and presented the draft bill during the first reading in the Riigikogu. They mention previous activities, such as writing an article about mistakes in the defense sector in 2007, and calling the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense regarding the transfer of weapon systems to Ukraine, which indicates direct and rapid intervention. The speaker emphasizes the constant "pushing" required for decisions to be adopted.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The criticism is aimed primarily at the lack of strategic thinking among previous Defence Forces leaderships, top Ministry of Defence officials, and politicians, which resulted in errors concerning "affordable" national defense and personnel management. It also criticizes the current government for delaying the decision on the new reinforcement package. On the foreign policy front, it faults Europe for attempting to proceed "as if this war were not happening."
9 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Expresses the desire to achieve consensus on strategic issues within the Riigikogu, the Ministry of Defence, and the Defence Forces. Acknowledges that the coalition has adopted and implemented several previous initiatives and good ideas (e.g., medium-range air defence). Emphasizes the need to integrate allied troop formations (NATO, Finland, Sweden, Poland) into the structure of the Estonian division.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
Focuses on Estonian national defense as part of NATO collective defense and the Baltic theater of war. It emphasizes the cardinal strategic impact of Finland and Sweden joining NATO (support at sea and in the air). It considers Ukraine an important de facto ally and supports providing assistance, while simultaneously demanding that this does not occur at the expense of Estonia's defense capability.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Prefers fiscal flexibility and borrowing to ensure security, arguing that moving toward budget balance under current conditions would be dangerous. It calls for resources to be channeled into comprehensive national defense, the funding of which lacks an analogous agreement comparable to the 3% GDP allocated for military defense. It supports the allocation of 0.25% of GDP to aid Ukraine but demands that this amount be replenished within the Estonian defense budget.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
It does not address traditional social issues. The only related topic is civil defense (part of internal security), where the government is required to provide clear strategies and answers regarding the number of people to be evacuated and the number of available shelters.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main priority is the adoption of Riigikogu Draft Resolution 322 OE, which would obligate the government to compile a long-term national defense vision (2045) and development plan (2034). It emphasizes the need to decide on a new reinforcement package (combat engineers, indirect fire, drones) during the preparation of the next State Budget Strategy (RES) in order to accelerate capability development.
9 Speeches Analyzed