Today, 27 January, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who is visiting Estonia as part of the
State Visit of the King of Denmark. The meeting focused on security challenges related to the Baltic Sea region, Europe and the Arctic. Denmark also officially handed over the chairmanship of the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) cooperation format to Estonia today.
“As NATO Allies, Estonia and Denmark are committed to jointly and in a coordinated manner addressing all security challenges facing the Alliance – whether related to the Baltic Sea region, Greenland and the Arctic more broadly, or NATO’s southern neighbourhood. We support NATO’s 360-degree approach and are working to ensure the Alliance’s core objective: the defence of the entire Allied territory,” Tsahkna said, adding that Estonia supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Speaking about Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the foreign minister noted that Europe must remain on course in pressuring Russia and supporting Ukraine.
“Through its brutal attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Russia has pushed the country to the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe during a record-cold winter. On the one hand, this means Ukraine urgently needs assistance to restore its energy systems and strengthen its air defence capabilities. On the other hand, Russia’s actions clearly show that instead of peace, Russia is attempting to bomb its way into a stronger negotiating position – which means Europe must increase pressure on Russia,” Tsahkna said. “We will continue working towards the adoption of the European Union’s 20th sanctions package and towards deterring the activities of the shadow fleet that feeds Russia’s state budget.”
Tsahkna also raised the need for EU-wide action to restrict the entry into the Schengen area of fighters who have fought for Russia against Ukraine.
“Estonia recently added the first 261 Russian fighters who have fought in Ukraine to the Schengen entry ban list, and we are now working to ensure that the Schengen ban is extended to all those who have fought for Russia in Ukraine. Stronger cooperation between countries is essential in this regard,” Tsahkna said. “Combat-experienced fighters – including those sent to the front from prisons and individuals holding hostile views towards Europe – have no place in a free Europe.”
The bilateral meeting was followed by a public discussion between the ministers on the future of NB8 cooperation and regional security, during which Denmark officially handed over the NB8 chairmanship to Estonia.
“Nordic-Baltic cooperation has strengthened significantly in recent years. As this year’s NB8 chair, Estonia intends to build on the work carried out by Denmark last year and ensure that NB8 continues to play a leading role in supporting Ukraine and strengthening Europe’s deterrence and defence posture,” Tsahkna said. “With a combined population of 33 million, the Nordic and Baltic countries are capable of driving major initiatives by speaking with one voice on key foreign and security policy issues and by leveraging their economic strength.”
More information about Estonia’s priorities during its chairmanship of the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) cooperation format is available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Photos from the meeting (gallery to be updated).
Additional information:
Communication Department
[email protected]