Baltic, Nordic formins participating in Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi

TALLINN - Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and his Nordic and Baltic counterparts are in New Delhi from Tuesday to Friday to attend the annual Raisina Dialogue.

The trip was undertaken jointly within the framework of the Nordic Baltic cooperation (NB8).

During the visit, the Estonian minister will meet with India's foreign minister and minister of state for external affairs to discuss multilateral and bilateral relations, the development of the defense industry and international support for Ukraine, spokespeople for the Foreign Ministry in Tallinn said.

Shortly before the Raisina Dialogue, a Europe-India business seminar will be held, with the Estonian minister speaking in the panel on digital development. The minister will also attend a reception celebrating the 106th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.

Tsahkna described the visit as important, especially now, as the bilateral relations of Estonia and India have expanded in recent years, which is demonstrated by India opening its embassy in Tallinn in 2021.

"Estonia considers it important to develop our bilateral cooperation with India in the defense industry and cybersecurity, as well as on trade, innovation and education," Tsahkna said, adding that the importance of India as a target country is also growing for other Nordic and Baltic states, which is why the visit is held jointly with other NB8 foreign ministers.

The Raisina Dialogue, hosted annually by India since 2016, has become a significant international platform for discussing geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges. The exchange between global partners on current security issues is an important aim of the trip. The NB8's primary emphasis will be on the need for global support for Ukraine and the international rules-based order. 

India is a partner of growing importance to the Nordic-Baltic region. Links between the Nordic and Baltic countries and India are expanding in many areas, such as trade and investment, green transition and innovation.