The Under Secretary of Defence of the US thanked Estonia for close alliance relations
26.02.2010 | Jaak Aaviksoo | English news
Jaak Aaviksoo, the Minister of Defence, and Michèle Flournoy, the Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, assured that the military alliance relations between the US and Estonia are secure and the bilateral military cooperation is becoming more active.
The Under Secretary of Defence of the US said that Estonia's contribution to ensuring of international security is significant and highly valued in Washington and in the NATO as a whole.
"Close alliance relations to Estonia and the other Baltic States are clearly in the centre of the US defence policy," Michèle Flournoy said.
Jaak Aaviksoo, the Minister of Defence, said that Estonia has shown its commitment to collective security and sent members of the Defence Forces to serve side by side with soldiers of the US in Afghanistan, the focal point of the most important military operation of the NATO. "We continue this mission in the same volume but beside military presence it is even more important to increase civil activity by sending supplementary aid and experts," said the Ministry of Defence.
Aaviksoo assured that the US show more and more commitment to collective security and also regarding a regional aspect which is important to Estonia.
"The best proof for that are the several military training exercises held in Estonia and in its close proximity," Jaak Aaviksoo, the Minister of Defence said after the meeting.
In the meeting the NATOs wider role, which in addition to the collective defence-centred principles also includes new challenges regarding terrorism, cyber crimes and energy supply, in ensuring European security was discussed.
Michèle Flournoy, the Under Secretary of Defence for Policy of the US recognised the initiative of Estonia to establish a NATO cyber defence centre and was of the opinion that exchange of information and experience in cyber-related matters would become even more intense than it is now.
In the meeting the NATO's relations to Russia and possible joint activities regarding restrictions of weapons of mass destruction, relations to Iran and combat with pirates and international terrorism were also touched.
