Estonia’s Kaja Kallas vies to become EU’s next foreign policy chief

If not for Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine, Kaja Kallas might not have emerged as one of the most prominent voices on European foreign affairs. As prime minister of Estonia, Kallas rang the alarm bells about Russian aggression, pushing the EU to supply Ukraine with ammunition and freeze Russian assets, even as some Western leaders wrung their hands over the risk of provoking the Kremlin.
That track record is both one of Kallas’ biggest assets and her biggest weakness as she faces questions from members of the European Parliament. As a candidate for the EU’s foreign policy chief — officially, the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy — she will have to alleviate fears that she’s too much of a Russia hawk, at the expense of other international priorities.
While she’s widely expected to pass with flying colors, she’ll also get an opportunity to do what the job sometimes requires: answer uncomfortable questions.
We’ll bring you all the live action below starting at 9 a.m. CET on Nov. 11. Watch the livestream here.
If you want to follow more of the action from the hearings, we’ll be bringing you blow-by-blow updates from all 26 commissioner interviews here.
P.S.: In a series of debriefs tomorrow, our reporters will reflect on what the hearings say about the future of the EU’s defense, energy and tech policies. Register now to attend.