Gallery: Ratas meets with German Defense Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer
Prime Minister Jüri Ratas met on Friday with German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer during a two-day visit to Estonia.
Ratas showed the defense minister around Stenbocki maja (Stenbock House) in Tallinn and held a meeting.
Ratas said Estonia and Germany are countries that think in the same way and emphasised Germany's large contribution to ensuring the security of the region.
"Estonia and Germany are linked by strong historical bonds as well as very close co-operation in the modern day. We are both dedicated allies in NATO as well as the European Union, and consider the future of both organisations important," he said. "As partners, we both want our future Europe to be a safe and good place where to live in."
Ratas added that Estonia greatly appreciates Germany's effort in ensuring the security of the Baltic countries."Thinking of the future, we have very many similar interests regarding cybersecurity, and this is an area where we could work together even more," he said.
Kramp-Karrenbauer arrived in Estonia on Thursday afternoon and met with Estonian Defense Minister Jüri Luik the same evening.
Luik said Estonia highly values Germany's support for strengthening defense and deterrence in the Baltic Sea region.
"Germany's commitment to the Baltic air security mission and the presence of NATO allied forces is remarkable," Luik said.
The defense ministers discussed international security policy and bilateral cooperation. Germany also outlined the priorities of its forthcoming EU Council Presidency.
Kramp-Karrenbauer (57) was elected chairman of the German Democratic Union (CDU), taking over from Chancellor Angela Merkel on Dec. 7 last year. She became German defense minister on July 17, when Ursula von der Leyen resigned after being proposed as the next president of the European Commission.
Kramp-Karrenbauer was formerly the Secretary-General of the CDU and from 2011 to 2018 the Prime Minister of Saarland.
She is considered a possible successor to Merkel who has announced that she will not run again for the role of chancellor.
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Editor: Helen Wright