Opinions and attitudes towards Estonia's foreign policy differ primarily along ethnic lines. While Estonians consider strengthening NATO collective defence and Nordic-Baltic regional cooperation the most important priorities, Russian residents place greater importance on supporting businesses in foreign markets and improving relations with Russia. Comparing age groups, support for Estonia's foreign policy priorities was above average among the youngest respondents (aged 15–29).
According to respondents, Estonia should primarily strengthen its international image by standing out in advancing digital development and cyber capabilities (43%), promoting security and defence cooperation (33%), advancing education and e-education (30%), and protecting human rights and freedoms (28%).
Public support for sanctions against Russia remains high: 71% of residents support the sanctions (83% of Estonians and 40% of Russian respondents). As a general principle of economic diplomacy, nearly half of Estonians also believe that Estonia should not promote business cooperation with authoritarian countries or countries that disregard our core values.
Regarding the possible terms of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, there continues to be a divide between Estonian and Russian respondents. While a clear majority of Estonians (74%) believe Ukraine should not make concessions to Russia, a majority of Russian respondents (61%) believe Ukraine should make concessions.
Support for Ukraine's accession to the European Union remains unchanged: 60% of respondents support it, including 76% of Estonians and 24% of Russians. Ukraine's accession to NATO is supported by 54% of respondents, including 71% of Estonians and 17% of Russians. Compared with a year ago, public support has also increased for EU enlargement to other countries. Slightly more than half of the respondents support sending Estonian troops to Ukraine, but after the war has ended and as part of a peacekeeping mission. Most residents consider Estonia's support for Ukraine to be sufficient, although willingness to personally contribute to Ukraine's reconstruction has declined.
In the context of US-EU relations, solidarity with EU member states is considered more appropriate than prioritising alliance relations with the United States. Despite some criticism directed at the US, NATO continues to be seen as an important security guarantee. According to 53% of respondents, if disagreements arise between the United States and the European Union, Estonia should determine its position according to the specific circumstances, seeking to find a compromise.
Although half of respondents have no opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the share of respondents without a view has decreased compared with 2025, while the perception that Estonia's policy is too pro-Israel has become more common (29% of residents, more frequently among young people).
China is more often perceived as a partner than as a threat or competitor, but public support has increased slightly for banning the use of Chinese technology in Estonia's internal security, defence industry and green technology sectors (34% supported such a ban in the 2025 survey, compared with 38% in 2026). On Taiwan, respondents most often consider it reasonable for Estonia either to refrain from developing political relations or to align its position with the majority of EU member states.
Awareness of international development cooperation remains relatively low, but respondents see economic cooperation as its primary objective. When supporting developing countries, respondents most frequently chose creating opportunities for Estonian businesses in foreign markets (31%) as the main point of consideration. Respondents also frequently identified strengthening democracy and civil society in partner countries (16%) and reducing poverty (12%) as key objectives.
Compared with autumn, the share of respondents who believe that strengthening ties with Estonians living abroad contributes to Estonia's security, positive international image and economic development has increased (66%). Respondents most often saw the value of maintaining these ties in promoting the Estonian language and culture (63%) and strengthening the national identity of Estonians living abroad, as well as their connection with Estonia (55%).
Awareness of foreign policy issues remains consistently high (50% considered themselves well informed and 9% rather well informed). Men, the 60–74 age group, those with higher education and those in a good economic situation were more likely to consider themselves well informed. Young people assessed their own awareness as relatively low, and there is also a noticeable difference between ethnic groups: Estonians rate their own level of awareness of Estonia's foreign policy lower than Russian respondents or respondents of other ethnic backgrounds. Specifically, 54% of ethnic Estonian respondents, 72% of ethnic Russian respondents and 72% of respondents from other ethnic backgrounds considered themselves well informed on foreign policy issues. When comparing Estonia's regions, residents of North-East Estonia (70% considered themselves well informed) and the capital region (65%) rated their awareness the highest on average. Residents of Western and Central Estonia were the least likely to consider themselves well informed (50%).
The survey was conducted by the research company Turu-uuringute AS on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Read the full survey report: https://vm.ee/en/surveys-public-attitudes-toward-foreign-policy-estonia?view_instance=0¤t_page=1
