Estonia's natl defense council to discuss energy security, NATO cooperation

TALLINN – At the invitation of President Alar Karis, the National Defense Council of Estonia will meet on Monday afternoon to discuss issues related to energy security and cooperation with NATO allies in strengthening the defense of the alliance's eastern flank.

The National Defense Council will focus in particular on matters related to securing Estonia's energy supply and the implementation of the decisions taken at the NATO Madrid summit,  spokespeople for the president's office said on Friday.

The National Defense Council is an advisory body to the president of the Republic of Estonia. The members of the council are the president of the Riigikogu, the prime minister, the chairman of the national defense committee of the Riigikogu, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Riigikogu, the minister of foreign affairs, the minister of defense, the minister of finance, the minister of the interior, the minister of justice, the minister of economic affairs and infrastructure and the commander of the defense forces.

The council discusses key issues from the point of view of national defense and expresses its opinions on these issues.