Minister: Trump victory will not change Estonia's foreign policy goals

  • 2024-11-06
  • BNS/TBT Staff

TALLINN - Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on Wednesday that Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election will not change Estonia's foreign policy goals and activities vis-a-vis the United States, because the fundamental principles on which Estonia's foreign policy is based have not changed.

"Russia still wants to destroy Ukraine's sovereignty and dismantle the security architecture based on the European Union and NATO. Our task is to ensure that Russia's goal is not achieved and that a just and lasting peace is achieved in Europe," Tsahkna said in a press release.

According to the minister, Estonia will continue to work with the United States and other allies to ensure that Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty are restored, the aggressor emerges from the war as the clear loser, and changing national borders by force of arms is fully discredited.

"We will also continue to increase the cost of the war for Russia by tightening the sanctions and to support Ukraine militarily and bring it closer to NATO," Tsahkna said.

The Estonian minister said he is convinced that a strong transatlantic bond is important not only for Europe but also for broader international security.

"At the same time, it is clear that Europe itself must take its defense seriously and invest more in security, pursue a strong foreign policy, and speak with one voice. Estonia takes its defense seriously, investing 3.4 percent of GDP in defense this year, and we want to see NATO allies raise their defense spending target to at least 2.5 percent of GDP," Tsahkna said.

The minister emphasized that bilateral cooperation with the US is and will remain extremely important for Estonia.

"We will continue our work to protect the security interests and economic interests of Estonia and the US, so that well-being is ensured on both sides of the Atlantic. Both the defense minister and I, as well as many others in Estonia and abroad, have experience of good cooperation with President Trump's administration during his first term. Estonia remains calm and continues to act resolutely to achieve its foreign policy goals, and I believe that cooperation with the new US administration will be forward-looking for both Estonia and the US," Tsahkna said.