The head of state remarked that being NATO allies lent a new dimension to bilateral defence cooperation between Estonia and Finland. “As the easternmost brothers in arms in the alliance, our two countries share an understanding of the security situation, particularly in regard to Russia,” he said. “Our cooperation and exchange of information have been taken to a new level.” He noted that Finland has long been one of the countries that Estonia looks to in terms of developing and funding its national defence.
Speaking of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, President Karis remarked that the Ukrainians had convincingly shown that they have a place in the Euro-Atlantic family of countries. “We know from our own experience that the only effective security guarantee in the immediate vicinity of Russia is NATO membership,” he said. “For that reason, Estonia expects the summit in Vilnius to provide a clear message in regard to Ukraine’s journey towards accession.” He confirmed that Estonia would continue to support the beleaguered nation in every way, including by contributing to its rebuilding, and that it was willing to share its experience and work with others.
In the view of the head of state, the fact that Finland is Estonia’s most important trading partner stands as confirmation of the close relationship between the two countries. “The most recent report on future cooperation between Estonia and Finland highlighted our success stories in the areas of cross-border communication and digital technology, which other countries stand to learn from,” he said.
Gallery: Raigo Pajula
