Kaja Kallas Steps Down as Estonia's Prime Minister to Lead EU Foreign Policy

Kaja Kallas, Estonia's first female prime minister, has resigned to become the European Union's foreign policy chief. Her tenure saw significant support for Ukraine and sizable investments in national defense. Climate Minister Kristen Michal is nominated as her successor, pending approval from the President and parliament.

Kaja Kallas, Estonia's first female prime minister, has resigned to assume her new role as the European Union's foreign policy chief later this year. Kallas submitted her resignation to President Alar Karis during a brief meeting at the Presidential Palace in Tallinn on Monday.

During her tenure, Kallas was a vocal supporter of Ukraine following Russia's invasion in 2022. She will replace Josep Borrell of Spain, who has held the EU foreign policy chief role since 2019. President Karis remarked that Kallas' 3 1/2 years in office were marked by crises, including the coronavirus pandemic, economic recession, and the war in Ukraine.

Kallas' resignation has automatically triggered the resignation of her three-party coalition Cabinet, which will act as a caretaker government until a new Cabinet is sworn in, likely in early August. Climate Minister Kristen Michal has been selected as the successor and will need approval from the President and the 101-seat parliament, where the coalition holds a comfortable majority.

(With inputs from agencies.)