Estonia's Kaja Kallas urges Europe to 'put its house in order' at Davos summit

'Our security and our values are at stake,' says Estonian PM as she calls for increased defense spending and a stronger EU

Kallas also highlights need to address climate change and energy security

[Davos, Switzerland] - Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has called on Europe to "put its house in order" in the face of growing geopolitical tensions and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Kallas said that Europe must increase its defense spending, strengthen its energy security, and address the challenges of climate change.

"Our security and our values are at stake," Kallas said. "We must be prepared to defend ourselves against those who would threaten our way of life."

Kallas called on EU member states to increase their defense spending to 2% of GDP, in line with NATO's target. She also urged the EU to develop a more robust energy policy, reducing its dependence on Russian gas and investing in renewable energy sources.

"We cannot continue to rely on authoritarian regimes for our energy security," Kallas said. "We must diversify our energy sources and invest in renewable energy."

Kallas also highlighted the need to address climate change, saying that it is a "threat to our planet and our way of life."

"We must act now to reduce our emissions and transition to a clean energy future," Kallas said. "The future of our planet depends on it."

Kallas's speech comes as Europe faces a number of challenges, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, and the threat of climate change.

Europe must address these challenges head-on," Kallas said. "We must put our house in order and be prepared to defend ourselves against those who would threaten our way of life."

"The future of Europe is at stake," Kallas said. "We must act now to build a more secure, prosperous, and sustainable future for our continent."