The Estonian Central Council in Canada (ECC) was founded seventy-five years ago by immigrants, who had fled the second Soviet occupation. Amongst its founders were members of the Estonian government in exile, Estonian Parliament, diplomats, and other government officials. For fifty years, ECC’s mission was to lobby nationally and globally for non-recognition of the Soviet occupation and fight to restore freedom for Estonia. In the 1970s and 1980s, ECC was instrumental in supporting dissident groups in Estonia and building relationships with its future leaders. In 1990, eight members of ECC were elected to the Congress of Estonia – a grassroots representative body elected by over half a million Estonians acting as a pro-independence alternative to the Supreme Soviet government.
Following the restoration of independence, Estonia overcame daunting challenges and quickly integrated into international organizations such as NATO and the European Union. Its leaders recognized that it was paramount to ensure Estonia’s national security within a democratic rules-based world order. European Union and NATO membership, as well as a strong relationship with the United States of America and other democratic nations have been the foundation of its foreign policy.
In the past decade, ECC together with other diaspora central organizations and the Estonian World Congress have built strong and positive relationships with Estonian governments. This led to the appointment of a Special Ambassador for Global Estonian within the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the establishment of the Global Estonian Program.
We are now once again living in uncertain and turbulent times. In the thirteen months since Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term as president, it has become clear that an increasingly authoritarian United States is no longer a trustworthy ally of either Canada or the European Union. The Russian war on Ukraine rages on with nightly killings of innocent citizens and attacks on civilian infrastructure. Trump has withdrawn direct support for Ukraine and negotiates with Putin while admonishing Ukrainian president Zelenskyy for not doing enough. He threatens Canada with becoming the “51st state” and has Greenlanders and Denmark on alert for a possible takeover. The Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy states in zero-sum terms, a return to large-power spheres of influence with assertion of U.S. dominance over the Western Hemisphere. There is no mention of promoting democracy or defence of human rights.
The implications are huge for Canada, Estonia and the rest of the democratic free world. As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated in his brilliant speech in Davos, we are experiencing “a rupture in the world order”. This is of great concern to both Canada and Estonia. Global disruption and volatility from south of our border are creating unease and concern about the future of NATO, upon which Estonia relies for national security and defense.
The Estonian government has developed information portals for civilians in the event of a crisis or outbreak of war: kriis.ee/en; olevalmis.ee and olevalmis.ee/en/military-conflict
The Estonian World Congress, of which ECC is a member, will be discussing strategic communication and crisis plans with Estonian ministries and State Chancellery at upcoming meetings in Tallinn.Every fifth person of Estonian descent lives outside of Estonia. The Estonian diaspora also needs to be ready should it be called upon. The Estonian-Canadian community needs to be ready.
Elagu Eesti Vabariik! Slava Ukrainia!
