JEF leaders' summit to bring together heads of state, government in Tallinn

TALLINN - Monday marks the start of a two-day security summit in Tallinn between the member states of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal will host the presidents of Lithuania and Finland, the prime ministers of the Netherlands, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, and the foreign minister of Iceland, government spokespeople said.

Key topics of discussion at the JEF leaders' summit will include increasing defense spending, security in the Baltic Sea region, and support for Ukraine.

"The JEF plays a vital role in the deterrence and defense posture of the Baltic Sea region," Michal said. "Recent years have shown how important it is to protection critical maritime infrastructure. We must continuously train with our allies to maintain the ability of our forces to react quickly and decisively."

This meeting coincides with the 10th anniversary of the JEF, providing an opportunity to assess the achievements of the military cooperation coalition and set goals for the future.

Last year, the JEF summit was held in Sweden, and before that, in Latvia in 2022.

The JEF is a defense cooperation format led by the United Kingdom, which includes the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland in addition to Estonia. The idea of the JEF is to be a first responder before NATO Article 5 is declared. The framework is made up of like-minded countries that are ready to contribute quickly and flexibly to operations ranging from humanitarian crises to conventional warfare.