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, which oversees Estonia's MoD and Military 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, Kaljulaid is often invited to speak at conferences and comment on foreign affairs, national security, and defence issues in the news media. He has spoken at events in the United States and Europe organised by the Atlantic Council, German Marshall Fund and GLOBSEC.  

Kaljulaid has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine and 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 Allied security by Russia and China. Kaljulaid is committed to the transatlantic relationship and firmly believes that current tensions are transitory and the relationship will revert back to cooperation instead of confrontation.  

Before his political career, Raimond Kaljulaid was a successful entrepreneur, founding and leading multiple marketing and advertising agencies catering to local and international clients. He established Estonia’s first digital content marketing agency, recognising early on the importance of creative content strategies for digital platforms. 

Raimond is recognised as an outstanding public speaker and a skilled at engaging with the news media and on social media. He maintains a strong media presence in Estonia commenting frequently on foreign affairs and security policy. He has authored two books: one on political campaigning and the other on the subject time management.