Security gears up ahead of Obama’s Estonia visit

2014-08-22
From wire reports, TALLINN

U.S. President Barack Obama (photo: twitter)

Up to 300 defense forces members will be used to provide additional security during U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Tallinn next month, public broadcasting reports.

The figure is in addition to the1,700 police and border guard officers on duty before and during the visit on September 3, Interior Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

U.S President Barack Obama will visit Tallinn on September 3 to meet with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and other officials from Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

The crunch meeting comes a day before a major NATO summit in Wales on September 4-5.

Estonia's government announced additional border checks from August 31 to September 4 ahead of the trip.

The heightened security measures will affect ports, airports and border controls will be restored along Estonia's southern border with Latvia. The measures mean crossing the border between the two EU nations is only permitted through border check points.

(Edited by Rayyan Sabet-Parry)