Ross Allen has served as British Ambassador to Estonia since 2021 – 4 and half years. Allen has grown very fond of Estonia: he admires Estonia’s school system and clean environment.

He opposed Brexit and wanted the UK to remain in the European Union. Allen has joined the Estonian Defence League and become a member of the Royal Air Force Reserve. He has three children, and maintaining balance in his life is very important to him.

Reasons why we live during perilous times

1. War in Europe

The Ukraine war has been going on for nearly four years. When Ross Allen visits London, he gets asked “How does it feel to be on the front line?” as they don’t comprehend the geographical location of Estonia. Allen adds: “Berlin is actually closer to Kyiv than Tallinn.”

2. Uncertain economy

On the economic side, one of the things that both Estonia and the UK have been trying to deal with is basically low or no growth. Everyone in the UK thinks that the Estonian economy is doing brilliantly. Although Estonia has progressed since regaining independence and is known as a highly digital state, the economic situation is not strong. The 2008 financial crisis, Brexit, and COVID-19 have significantly affected the UK economy.

3. Demographic challenges

Estonia is facing demographic challenges – people are not having enough kids and there is a portion of the population that needs to learn Estonian. In the UK, people used to think that they don’t have demographic challenges but the situation has been changing during the last 10 years.

4. Declining support for governments

Public support for governments has declined in both countries. In the UK, support for the Prime Minister has fallen, even though he has not necessarily made objectively bad decisions. Allen believes this phenomenon reflects the broader global situation and the evolving relationship between the public and political power.

4. Developing technology

Many people are also concerned about artificial intelligence. Although Estonia strongly supports digital innovation, there is considerable skepticism about AI in the UK. We will see what the future brings.

5. China

The United States views China as a danger. Since the UK left the European Union, the state has found itself scared of being caught in between different global powers. Allen suggests that there is a possibility to work together with China.

Estonia and UK as friends

Ross Allen: “When you live during perilous times, you need close friends.” 

Allen has created a metaphor for his children to emphasize the importance of having close friends. “If you have bullies in school and you want to stand up to them you need close friends who will back you up.” 

Ross Allen’s work involves maintaining strong relations between Estonia and the UK. He wants to ensure that the two countries cooperate effectively. Many UK troops are stationed in Tapa. Their mission is to deter Russia, defend Estonia, and protect its people. Strong UK-Estonia relations reinforce the credibility of NATO’s Article 5. If Russia were to attack, it is beneficial that countries are already accustomed to working together. 

Between 3,000 and 3,500 soldiers in the UK are prepared to deploy to defend Estonia if Russia attacks. Last summer, exercises were conducted with British soldiers. These exercises help identify practical issues – for example, there is no need to transport drinking water to Estonia because it is readily available locally, so shipping containers can be used for other supplies.

The UK and Estonia cooperate closely in detecting cyberattacks and encountering FIMI. The UK Minister for Education is visiting to learn how Estonia teaches the use of technology and national defence in schools. Estonian students are trained to identify disinformation.

Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) brings together the UK, the Netherlands, the Baltic states, and several Nordic countries in a framework for military cooperation and joint response to security challenges. JEF enables us to maintain close friendships.

The current government of the UK has been in power for around 18 months. This government, although not seeking to reverse Brexit, hopes to warm up UK-EU relationships. Allen states, “It helps the UK when the EU has member states, who want the UK back in the game.” UK and EU cooperation is getting better.

Allen believes that Europe needs the support of the United States of America. Even if President Donald Trump says impulsive or controversial things, Europeans must work diplomatically to ensure that America remains their ally. This is essential for NATO to function effectively. Each country should allocate an appropriate share of its GDP to defence – on this point, he believes the United States is justified.

Reasons why to stay optimistic

1. Russia

Russia is not as strong as it appears. Russia has suffered enormous losses consequently to  the Ukraine war and has not – thankfully – won the war. Russia’s economy is under significant strain. The economies of the Baltic states and the Nordic countries alone are stronger than Russia’s. Russia is not truly capable of dominating the region.

2. Europe defence

JEF and NATO facilitate cooperation among allies. Estonia, as many other countries, hosts troops from their allies, including the United States, who are committed to a shared purpose. Estonians allocate a significant proportion of their GDP to defence and in response to Russia’s aggressions and statements by President Trump, other European countries have started to strengthen their defence capabilities.

3. China

Allen is not entirely pessimistic about China: “China can be a threat as well as potential partner for cooperation.” Although the Chinese government maintains strong technological control over its population and there is no democracy, EU members should cooperate with China in order to slow down climate change for example. If China wishes to cooperate with Western countries, it must respect intellectual property rights.

4. Economy

There are some signs that Estonia’s economy may be recovering. The UK has also attempted to improve its economic situation. Allen believes that people should have greater confidence in their leaders, as conditions may gradually improve.

Questions

1. “One of the reasons why the UK left the EU was to reduce immigration. After Brexit the situation with immigrants seems to be the opposite. Does the UK want to join the EU again?”

Many who supported leaving the EU did so for different reasons. For some, it was controversial that the UK had to share its economic success with others. Although many voted for Brexit to reduce immigration, European migrants have largely been replaced by migrants from elsewhere. For example, many people arrived from Hong Kong and Ukraine, though much of this migration was not originally anticipated. Migrants were often willing to do jobs that locals were reluctant to take.

Illegal immigration is widely unpopular in the UK. If a referendum were held today asking whether Brexit was a good decision, approximately three-quarters might say it was not. However, many do not believe the UK should immediately rejoin the EU. That would take time, as there is no appetite for adopting common economic structures, though cooperation with the EU is widely supported. The UK is set to rejoin the Erasmus programme next year. Allen considers it geographically logical for the EU and the UK to cooperate.

2. “Ukrainians have perilous times. Do we need to help Ukraine more than we do at the moment? If we don’t do that, do we start negotiations with Putin? How should the war end?”

Ukraine is facing extremely difficult circumstances, and the UK has provided assistance. The UK delivered 14 tanks and numerous missiles, which encouraged other EU countries to increase their support. Denmark and Estonia have provided significant assistance. The UK has fallen in relative rankings of aid, partly because it has already supplied much of what it can. The UK must carefully consider troop deployments to avoid escalating the conflict. However, the UK should continue providing military support, including Storm Shadow missiles. Greater efforts should be made to intercept shadow fleets and impose further costs on Russia.

Allen is skeptical that negotiations between the EU and Russia would succeed. The EU must clearly explain the reality of the situation to the United States if the negotiations should start. “Russia is the aggressor; Ukraine is the one that was attacked—we have to make that clear to the US.” In his view, Russia does not genuinely seek peace.

He noted that in areas where Starlink coverage has been lost, Russian forces struggle. The US should be supported in pursuing peace, but it must not be implied that Ukraine should surrender its territory.

3. “The UK has a reform party that is close to the Estonian reform party. If the reform party comes to power, how would it affect the Estonia-UK relationship?”

If the UK Reform Party were to come to power, the situation is uncertain. The government might adopt a more hostile stance towards Europe. As a diplomat, Allen has served under governments whose views he may not personally share. If a diplomat fundamentally disagrees with their government, they should resign; it is not appropriate to undermine the elected leadership.

4. “What is the general perception of Russia in the UK?”

Many Britons view Russia and President Putin negatively. They dislike bullying behaviour. Poisoning incidents in the UK have further worsened public perceptions of Russia. Allen grew up during the Cold War, when views of the Soviet Union were already shaped by suspicion.

Although the UK has not been treated by Russia in the same way as Estonia has, British attitudes remain strongly critical. “The next leader of Russia could be as bad as Putin, if not worse.” In his view, Russia has historically had troubled relations with its neighbours regardless of who is in power; the issue is not only Putin, but the nature of the Russian state itself.

5. “What is the general perception of Estonia?”

British attitudes toward Russia make them more willing to support EU allies. Interviews by Kaja Kallas helped British audiences better understand Estonia’s situation. For many Britons, she may have been the first Estonian political leader they became aware of internationally.

Digital development has put Estonia on the map – “we are worth saving.” Estonia is also known for its successful companies and as an attractive place to visit. Many Britons genuinely like Estonia. Allen’s own book about Estonia has contributed to raising awareness and support. “We are committed; we mean what we say about protecting Estonia.”

6. “What are the main other than economic reasons why people don’t support their governments?”

One reason is intergenerational economic inequality. Young people today find it far more difficult to purchase property than their parents did. In the UK, older generations attended university free of charge, whereas today tuition fees are substantial and many people continue repaying student loans well into adulthood.

Social media amplifies division. In the US, society has become highly polarized along left–right lines. In the UK, there are discussions about banning social media for those under 16, as it affects openness and mental well-being. Many Estonian children receive smartphones at an early age without being fully prepared to use them responsibly. Peer pressure may also play a role.

When Allen asked whether social media is harmful, nearly everyone in the lecture room raised their hand. When asked whether they had ever deleted a social media app, nearly everyone again raised their hand. “Social media is like smoking—we are going to realize how bad it is for us.” 

7. “What is the relationship between Uk and India”

India is the world’s largest democracy. Allen believes India should align more closely with the West rather than Russia. The West, including the UK, has come to acknowledge that colonialism was wrong, whereas Russia has not demonstrated similar reflection.

When visiting former British colonies, Allen has observed that the problem was not only economic exploitation but also the maintenance of political control. Today, the UK seeks close and positive relations with India. The two countries share cultural connections, including a love of cricket. The UK also allowed people from former colonies to settle in Britain, which proved mutually beneficial. The current UK Prime Minister has Indian heritage.

Slavery remains a painful chapter in British history. While much wealth was generated through the slave trade, Britain later played a significant role in its abolition. The country has expressed regret for past injustices. Despite a difficult history, modern Britain seeks to act responsibly.

8. “What is the UK stance on UNSC reform?”

The UK supports reform of the UN Security Council. Allen believes reform is necessary, and some argue that Russia should no longer hold its current position. The UK values peacekeeping missions and has not used its veto power for many years. In contrast, China and Russia have used the veto frequently. The UN requires reform because its peacekeeping mandate is undermined by the veto system.

9. “How are the special relations between the UK and US right now?”

The special relationship between the UK and the US remains strong. Intelligence sharing, defence cooperation, and economic ties are closely coordinated. The relationship has endured through various political periods, including during President Trump’s term. Although Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher had disagreements at times, the underlying relationship between the two countries remained solid.