US congressional visit highlights strong US-Estonia defense partnership

TALLINN – United States Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas led a congressional delegation to Estonia on August 9-10 to meet with Estonian leaders.

While in Tallinn, the delegation met with Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, Ministry of Defense secretary general Kusti Salm, and deputy commander of the defense forces Maj. Gen. Veiko-Vello Palm. 

"Estonia is a great friend and a strong ally that takes its defense and NATO’s seriously. It’s been a pleasure to visit Tallinn and to hear Estonia’s perspective on our partnership as we work together to address the security threats posed by Russia and China," Cotton said. 

During meetings with senior Estonian officials, Cotton highlighted the United States’ strong commitment to the US-Estonia partnership and to regional security, including holding the Russian government and its enablers accountable for their unjustified war in Ukraine. 

"In my conversations with senior defense and foreign policy officials, I emphasized the United States’ bipartisan support for strengthening NATO’s ability to deter and, if necessary, defeat Russian aggression, as well as the serious threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party," the senator added. 

Tom Cotton is a Republican US senator from Arkansas. Cotton is a member of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, where he serves as the ranking member of the Air Land Power Subcommittee. He also serves on the US Senate’s Intelligence Committee and the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as the ranking member for the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism. Cotton previously served in the US House of Representatives and was an active duty member of the United States Army with service in Iraq and Afghanistan.