Defence cooperation of Estonia and France shall be closer
26.02.2010 | Jaak Aaviksoo | English news
Jaak Aaviksoo, the Minister of Defence, and Pierre Lellouche, the Minister of State for European affairs of France, agreed upon closer defence cooperation between Estonia and France.
„The defence cooperation until now has enabled to establish a strong foundation which is a great place to move forward," Jaak Aaviksoo, the Minister of Defence said after the meeting.
„France has been a committed ally and participated, on several occasions, in air policing missions of the Baltic States and also in the Baltic Defence College but I'm glad that France still sees several ways how our defence-related cooperation could expand and become closer, for example increased participation in training exercises in the Baltic States, "Aaviksoo explained.
Lellouche, the Minsiter of State, also explained the issues regarding a possible weapon transaction of France and Russia, and further exchange of information was agreed upon.
It was decided that in the near future the politics directors of the Ministries of Defence shall meet in order to discuss the action plan of reaching the closer defence cooperation within the next following years.
In the meeting the issues of regional security and the NATO's strategic concept were discussed. The Ministers recognised that collective defence would remain the main task of the NATO also in the future.
Source: Estonian Ministry of Defence
