Defence Minister to UK counterpart: Estonia’s course won’t change
Defence Minister Hannes Hanso (SDE) met with his British counterpart, Michael Fallon, in Canada on Friday. Hanso assured Fallon that Estonia’s foreign and security policy course wouldn’t change under its new government.
“I confirmed to my dear British colleague that the non-partisan foreign and security policy of the Estonian government wouldn’t change, independent from the parties in the current coalition,” Hanso said according to a press release.
He added that there was still a lot to do to increase NATO’s presence in its border countries.
The preparations for the stationing of a British heavy armored battalion were proceeding according to plan, Hanso said, but there was still a lot of work ahead.
Estonia as well as the United Kingdom meet NATO’s aim of every member state spending at least 2% of GDP on national defense. Both Fallon and Hanso agree that all members need to bring their military spending to that level.
Hanso is currently participating in a security forum in Halifax in Canada. On Thursday he met with Canadian Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan on the occasion of a round table discussion of the UN’s peacekeeping missions and their development. Hanso also intends to meet U.S. Senator John McCain and a Senate delegation, as well as the defense minister of France.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn