Today, 8 May, Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna participated, as a representative of the Baltic Council of Ministers, in a meeting with members of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly, followed by a panel discussion focusing on strengthening the resilience of democratic societies, regional security, and support for Ukraine.
This year, in addition to chairing the Nordic-Baltic cooperation format, Estonia also holds the presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers. At the meeting, the minister stressed the need to make Baltic cooperation more flexible and modern in order to respond to the rapidly changing security environment and new geopolitical challenges. “The Baltic States must continue to act in a united and resolute manner, both in supporting Ukraine and in strengthening our own defence capabilities and the resilience of our societies. Security is not only about military defence, but also about resilience to information warfare, foreign interference, and maintaining social cohesion,” Tsahkna said.
The minister highlighted the main priorities of Estonia’s presidency in Baltic cooperation: strengthening regional security, including food security and the resilience of supply chains; developing cross-border connections, including progress on Rail Baltic and the protection of critical infrastructure; and continuing comprehensive support for Ukraine.
In the discussion, Tsahkna emphasised that the Baltic States should not be viewed in isolation, but as part of the broader Nordic-Baltic region, united by a shared threat perception and a common understanding of Russia’s aggressive behaviour. According to him, Europe’s security directly depends on whether strong support for Ukraine can be sustained. “Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine has now lasted for more than 1,500 days. Our task is to ensure that Europe’s history does not repeat itself and that authoritarianism and aggression do not determine the future of our region,” Tsahkna concluded.
Pictures (Riigikogu): https://fotoarhiiv.riigikogu.ee/xv-riigikogu/xv-riigikogu-delegatsioonid/balti-assamblee-ja-balti-ministrite-noukogu-konverents/
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