Last year we celebrated 100 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Estonia, and our cooperation is a story of success, with more to come. We should continue to look to the digital future and use all the potential in our cooperation for that. Last week we were very happy to inaugurate another Estonian Honorary Consulate in Romania, Cluj-Napoca. I am hopeful that this will help to create more economic, cultural and educational ties between our countries.
Estonia and Romania have close partnership and cooperation in NATO. We work together for a common goal – to ensure collective defence of Europe. We share the same concerns and challenges.
The security situation in Europe has radically changed. This has already led to a stronger presence of NATO Allies on the Eastern flank, which have sent a message to aggressor: attempts to turn back time and undermine our security are doomed to fail.
We agree that further steps are required and more needs to be done throughout the Eastern flank.
Given Russia’s aggressive behaviour, military presence in Belarus, in the Black Sea, war in Ukraine we must adjust the forward presence to become forward defence. This means that NATO should have the capabilities present needed to deny Russia any chance of intervening militarily throughout the Eastern flank. NATO needs to deliver a credible response, latest at the Madrid Summit.
With the largest and most severe sanctions’ package ever imposed on Russia, EU is raising the cost of aggression and isolating Russia.
And we are determined to continue with the sanctions, by adding more. We know that the sanctions have an effect, they work and are seriously painful.
We are also working on reducing our energy dependency on Russia.
I arrived here today from Chișinău, where I also met people who had fled President Putin’s horrifying war in Ukraine. I would like to commend Romania for the much needed help and support you have consistently given to Moldova and continue to give especially now, during the terrible humanitarian crisis.
Romania is a clear example of the fact that the support of friends can always be assured when in trouble.
Again, it is a great pleasure to visit Romania and meet you, president Iohannis.
Thank you.
