Ratas said in a press release after the meeting that relations between Estonia and the USA were strong, and that the American contribution to security in the Baltic region remained important, particularly the U.S. military presence in Estonia and the other Baltic states.

According to the prime minister, cooperation in the field of cyber defense is good, and Estonia remained a pioneering country thanks to its experience with state-coordinated cyber attacks and the technical and political preparation necessary to fend them off. The issue would remain important and needed particular attention leading up to elections.

Commenting on the upcoming Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union, Ratas stressed that Estonia wanted relations of the union with the USA to be strong, and this particularly in economic matters. “Estonia’s role during the presidency is to keep the European Union united and in working order. A strong European Union is an important partner also for the USA facing different challenges globally,” Ratas added.

The delegation that met with the prime minister included congresswomen Martha McSally and Kathleen Rice as well as congressmen Will Hurd, Kenny Marchant, Clay Higgins, and Dutch Ruppersberger.