Former Estonian PM Kallas replaces Israel critic Borrell as EU foreign policy chief

Read this article in:

Former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has been named the European Union's new foreign policy chief, succeeding Josep Borrell. The announcement of Kallas' appointment was presented by European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday.

Kallas, who was first nominated for the role in June, will now lead the bloc's foreign affairs and was introduced along with von der Leyen's revamped team of senior officials, many of whom are vocal critics of Russia and generally support Israel. Among the other new appointments is former Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, known for his strong stance against Russia and its war in Ukraine, who has been selected as the EU's defense chief.

Kallas’ predecessor, Borrell, has been a vocal critic of Israel and has advocated for the unilateral recognition of the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a de facto state.

In contrast, Kallas has been far more sympathetic towards Israel. She strongly condemned the Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 251 Israelis by the terrorist organization Hamas.

“Hamas is waging a ruthless campaign of terror with zero regard for human life, including the lives of Palestinians,” Kallas stated in November. “Israel is fully entitled to defend itself. But it must do so in a way that spares innocent lives and adheres to the norms of international law.”

In April, Kallas condemned Iran's missile and drone attack against Israel as “unjustified” and supports Ukraine in its war with Russia.

ELNET, an organization dedicated to strengthening relations between the EU and Israel, views Kallas' appointment as a potential shift toward a more pragmatic approach regarding the EU's Middle East policy

“Kallas knows firsthand the implications of living in an unstable region and experiencing foreign aggression,” ELNET stated.

“Kallas has a deep understanding of foreign aggression and terrorism, and what Israel is going through since Oct. 7, just as the Russian threat looms over Europe, the Iranian threat destabilizes the Middle East, highlighting the need for a united front against these common challenges,” ELNET assessed.

The former EU chief, Borrell, has a history of hostile statements against Israel in its war against Hamas.