Bio

Raimond Kaljulaid is a Member of the Estonian Parliament representing the Social Democrats. Kaljulaid was first elected to Parliament in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. He serves on the National Defence Committee and the Security Authorities Oversight Select Committee, which oversees Estonia’s intelligence and counterintelligence agencies. Previously, he served as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Vice-Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee, and Chair of the National Defence Committee.

Raimond Kaljulaid chairs the Estonian Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and leads a parliamentary group dedicated to supporting the growth of the Estonian defence industry, promoting Estonia as an attractive destination for defence investments, and encouraging collaboration between Estonian and international defence firms. He is also elected as vice-chair of the NATO PA Defence and Security Committee's sub-committee on Future Security and Defence Capabilities.   

As one of the Social Democrats’ leading spokespersons on defence and foreign policy, Raimond is often invited to speak at conferences and comment on foreign affairs, national security, and defence issues in the news media.

Raimond has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War, consistently calling for sustained military aid and political support from Western nations. He has criticized the West for failing to set clear goals in the campaign, including the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, NATO and EU integration, and justice for victims of Russian war crimes. Raimond is an outspoken advocate for increased NATO defence spending, urging member states to commit up to 4-5% of GDP—akin to Cold War levels—to ensure adequate deterrence against the existential threat posed to European security by Russia.

Fluent in Estonian, English, and Russian, Raimond has been closely tracking Russia and Vladimir Putin's regime and its malevolent activities for a quarter of a century.

In Estonia, Raimond has advocated for responsible fiscal policy and for a balance between economic growth and fair wealth distribution. A long-time advocate for the equal rights of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals, Raimond has been a vocal supporter of marriage equality legislation in Estonia. He is a fierce critic of Estonia’s far-right political movements, which he describes as anti-democratic and destructive. In 2019, he left his previous party in protest against its decision to form a coalition government with far-right populists.

Before his political career, Raimond was a successful entrepreneur, founding and leading multiple marketing and advertising agencies with a background in sales and marketing. He established Estonia’s first digital content marketing agency, recognizing early on the importance of creative content strategies for digital platforms.

Raimond is recognised as an outstanding public speaker and a skilled communicator at conferences, panels, and in the media. He is currently writing a book on time management.