[Estonian Defense Minister Warns: NATO Divisions Will Only Benefit Moscow]
Estonia's Defense Minister strongly rebutted Trump's claim that NATO allies would abandon the U.S. in times of crisis, citing Estonia's participation in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq since the early 2000s.
"When calculated proportionally, the number of personnel we lost in these conflicts is comparable to that of the United States. Therefore, as a nation and as a military force, we have sacrificed our people for a shared goal—world peace," he said.
Pevkurt warned that divisions within NATO would only benefit Moscow.
"I believe it is crucial at this moment for all allies to build bridges rather than destroy them. Because that is precisely what Putin wants to see—the fragmentation of the Western world," he said.
In an interview published on Wednesday, Trump stated he was considering withdrawing from NATO, calling the alliance a "paper tiger," and added that Russian President Vladimir Putin "knows this."
Estonia, which shares a border with Russia, has been increasing its weapons stockpiles and expanding its defense infrastructure as the war in Ukraine begins to spread near its borders.
Over the past week, more than a dozen Ukrainian drones that deviated from their flight paths have entered Estonian airspace. Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately interfering with the drones, causing them to head toward the Baltic states.
Estonia's Defense Minister said so far, the war in Iran has caused only "minor delays" in deliveries of Israeli-made weapons, while "a substantial amount of American munitions," including the "HIMARS" high-mobility artillery rocket system, continue to be delivered as planned.
"I hope we can trust President Trump's words that the war in Iran will end within a few weeks," he concluded.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861349941337241/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.