While Estonia also needs to get a new commissioner once Kadri Simson's (Center) term ends later this year, the prime minister is likely to aim higher; in any case a top-level appointment would allow her to save face while leaving domestic office, where she has been embattled for many months now.

Two posts might be viable for her here: One, which she has been linked with in the media before, is the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy post, the EU's foreign minister in effect, currently occupied by Josep Borrell of Spain.

The other would be a new development, if it even comes to fruition – namely a defense commissioner position, suggested by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this month and in light of the current security situation.

There would also likely be up to four people from Eastern Flank nations alone pursuing the one-to-two posts.

In addition to Prime Minister Kallas, Poland's new foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, is in the hunt, The FT reports, as are Lithuania's Gabrielius Landsbergis and Latvia's Krišjanis Karinš (both foreign ministers of their respective countries too).

All of the above conspicuously used last weekend's Munich Security Conference as a platform to boost their case for a senior EU security role, The FT says.

Kallas and Landsbergis are currently reaping the rewards of social media campaigns aimed at getting them into top Brussels security jobs, the paper says, while the Latvian-American Karinš' ambitions are an "open secret," plus Sikorski has been named in the Polish media as the country's likely next EU commissioner.

Notwithstanding her being relatively hawkish on Russia, The FT says, Kaja Kallas may well fit the bill.

At the same time, we are months away from any meaningful conversations over who might be the EU's next chief diplomat or hypothetical defense commissioner – the latter a proposed role.

Sikorski, Landsbergis and Karinš are all members of the European People's party (EPP), Ursula von der Leyen's group which, far from making them a shoo-in will likely hinder their chances, given the need for a balance across parties.

On the other hand, Kallas belongs to ALDE/Renew Europe (she also has exhibited warm relations with von der Leyen, while the latter, for what it is worth, has ancestral ties to Estonia – ed.).

Additionally, the post of dedicated defense commissioner is as things stand contingent on von der Leyen getting returned to the commission president post for a second five-year term.

Von der Leyen herself went straight to the role after being Germany's defense minister, while Kallas' name has in the recent past been linked (as has von der Leyen's) to the NATO secretary general post, but she is felt in many quarters again as too hawkish on Russia for this (as is von der Leyen).

On the other hand, the new, theoretical post is as such not seen as carrying as much prestige as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy position, perhaps as evidenced by the length of the job title and which again, Kallas has been tipped for.

The main events' timeline for the process is: In March the EU parties pick their commission president candidates, known by the German term Spitzenkandidat; June 6-9 the European Parliament elections take place; in autumn the current roster of EU leaders step down; by year-end, the new leaders should be installed.

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