The Paul Wells Show
Toomas Ilves on living in Russia’s shadow
Nov 29, 2023
Toomas Ilves, former president of Estonia, talks about building up Estonia's tech sector, getting Estonia into NATO, and watching Russia grow more aggressive from a small Baltic country. He discusses Estonia's digital revolution, the Tiger Leap program, and the strategic decision to join the EU to gain entry into NATO. Ilves also explores the defensibility of Ukraine and Georgia and argues against expanding NATO to these countries. He highlights the lack of support given to Ukraine during the invasion and reveals how Estonia became a global leader in IT and digitization.
31:26
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Quick takeaways
- Estonia's digital revolution, known as the Tiger Leap, propelled the country ahead in internet access, e-commerce, and open government.
- Estonia strategically joined the European Union to gain NATO membership, highlighting the different views on Russia between Western and Eastern Europe.
Deep dives
The Tiger Leap: Estonia's Digital Transformation
Former Estonian President Tomás Hendrik Ilves explains how Estonia, a tiny country recovering from Soviet rule, embraced a digital revolution known as the Tiger Leap. Ilves advocated for teaching kids computer skills, despite initial resistance. By 1998, all Estonian schools had computer labs and internet access. The digital transformation propelled Estonia ahead in internet access, e-commerce, and open government. Ilves also highlights the ongoing threat from Russia and the importance of Western support for Ukraine.
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