Kaja Kallas vies to become next EU foreign policy chief – live updates – POLITICO

Without Russia’s all-out attack on Ukraine, Kaja Kallas might not have emerged as one of the most prominent voices in European foreign affairs. As prime minister of Estonia, Kallas sounded the alarm bells about Russian aggression, forcing 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 record is both one of Kallas’ greatest assets and her greatest weakness as she faces questions from Members of the European Parliament. As a candidate for the post of EU foreign policy chief – officially the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – ​​she will have to allay fears that she is too much of a Russia hawk at the expense of other international priorities.

While she is widely expected to pass with flying colors, she also gets the chance to do what the job sometimes requires: answer uncomfortable questions.

We’ll be bringing you all the live action from 9am CET on November 11. Watch the live stream here.

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PS If you want to follow more of the action from the hearings, our reporters will give you detailed updates from all 26 interviews with commissioners here.