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Kaja Kallas

Kaja Kallas is an Estonian politician and diplomat.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Kaja Kallas is an Estonian politician and diplomat. She served as prime minister of Estonia from 2021 to 2024 and, since 2024, has been the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and a Vice-President of the European Commission. She was Estonia’s first female prime minister.

Early life and education

Kaja Kallas was born in Tallinn on 18 June 1977. She studied law and later worked as a lawyer before entering politics.

Political career in Estonia

Kallas served in the Estonian Parliament and was a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2018. She led the Estonian Reform Party from 2018 to 2024 and became prime minister in 2021.

Prime ministership

As prime minister, Kallas led Estonia through a period shaped by security concerns in Europe and the war in Ukraine. She resigned in 2024 ahead of taking up a senior EU post.

European Union role

Since 2024, Kallas has served as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and as a Vice-President of the European Commission. In this role, she helps direct the EU’s external relations and foreign policy.

Key facts

  • Kaja Kallas is an Estonian politician and diplomat.
  • She was prime minister of Estonia from 2021 to 2024, the first woman to hold the office.
  • In 2024, she became the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and a Vice-President of the European Commission.
  • She has been associated with the Estonian Reform Party.
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Canadian context

Kaja Kallas is relevant to Canadian readers through Canada–EU relations, transatlantic security policy, and European responses to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kaja Kallas?
Kaja Kallas is an Estonian politician and diplomat who served as prime minister of Estonia and later became a senior European Union official.
What office does Kaja Kallas hold now?
Since 2024, she has been the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and a Vice-President of the European Commission.
Was Kaja Kallas Estonia’s first female prime minister?
Yes. She was the first woman to serve as prime minister of Estonia.
What political party is Kaja Kallas associated with?
She is associated with the Estonian Reform Party, which she led from 2018 to 2024.
When was Kaja Kallas born?
She was born on 18 June 1977.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaja_Kallas
    Supports: Birth date, Estonian nationality, prime ministership, and EU role.
  2. European Commission — https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/kaja-kallas_en
    Supports: Current role as High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission.
  3. German Marshall Fund of the United States — https://gmfus.org/find-experts/kaja-kallas
    Supports: Career summary, Reform Party leadership, parliamentary and European Parliament service, and legal background.