Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna is on a visit to London on 4 and 5 December, and met with Foreign Secretary David Cameron today to discuss continued support to Ukraine, security in Europe and closer bilateral cooperation.
At the meeting, Foreign Minister Tsahkna thanked the United Kingdom for its contribution to the security of Estonia and Europe, including to reinforcing NATO’s Eastern Flank. “The United Kingdom is our close Ally in NATO,” Tsahkna said. “We are happy to serve daily shoulder to shoulder in the UK-led battle group that is part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Estonia and we highly appreciate your contribution to the Baltic Air Policing mission,” he noted.
The conversation concentrated on Ukraine, continued comprehensive assistance to Ukraine and raising the cost of the war for Russia. Minister Tsahkna emphasised that efforts must continue to isolate Russia internationally. He also presented Estonia’s initiative for using frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine. “We will continue supporting Ukraine for as long as needed, it is a matter of conscience for us,” Tsahkna said.
The ministers also spoke about boosting bilateral economic ties, including developing Europe’s defence industry. Tsahkna said that Estonia and the United Kingdom were connected through cooperation on emerging and disruptive technologies, including on developing NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), but he sees opportunities for even deeper ties. Tsahkna added that Estonia and the UK were contributing to maintaining the continuity of Ukraine’s digital sector.
