Analytics, Baltic States – CIS, Crisis, Education and Science, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, USA

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Ilves who is on a working visit to the United States spoke to students and faculty members about the challenges that Europe is facing. Ilves visited the university at the invitation of Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador in Moscow and Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, spokespeople for the president said.

The Estonian president spoke about the changes in the landscape of political parties in Europe and discussed the use of referendums as an important democratic tool. "We have seen how the electorate does not answer the question posed by the government at the ballot box, but instead reacts to other concerns."

Speaking about the migration crisis, the Estonian head of state conceded that this has been a serious trial and test of solidarity for the European Union. He recalled that solidarity does not only mean receiving noteworthy special purpose grants from the EU, for example, for building infrastructure in the member states, or supporting agriculture, education and research. Solidarity also means sharing the burden with those who have to shoulder more of the load of receiving war refugees, Ilves said, adding that "many complicated discussions await us as European Union members in regard to this question, between individual states as well as with the public of each individual state."

Speaking about the EU's relations with Russia, the Estonian head of state said he believed that the EU's joint sanctions against the Russian state apparatus would be renewed in the summer. "Russia's behavior has changed the thinking regarding security policy in the West. This is illustrated by the fact that public support for NATO has increased significantly in some countries in the Baltic Sea region," the president said.

In answer to a question about the importance of the deterrence policy, Ilves stated that deterrence in the 21st century does not need to be military in nature, but economic levers can also be employed as successful deterrents.

Ilves was welcomed at the university by former U.S. Secretary of State Concoleezza Rice.