NATO Secretary General visit to Estonia shows strong Alliance solidarity
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stressed the strength of Alliance solidarity on Thursday (8 May 2014), at the start of a two-day visit to Estonia together with the North Atlantic Council. The visit, focusing on enhancing collective defence and cyber security, takes place as Estonia marks 10 years of NATO membership.
Speaking of the grave concerns in the region raised by Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Mr Fogh Rasmussen said: “The entire Alliance stands with you. Our commitment to collective defence is rock solid. That is why the North Atlantic Council is here today. That is why Allies are deploying planes, ships and troops here to Estonia – and to other Allies from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea - to reinforce our collective security,”
Mr. Fogh Rasmussen held talks with President Toomas Ilves, Prime Minister Taavi Roivas and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. He praised Estonia for leading by example in cyber defence as well as in investing in security. Mr Fogh Rasmussen said: "you spend the right amount, and you spend it smartly, including by cooperating with other Allies to get more for your investments, and you make a strong contribution to our operations."
The Ambassadors from the North Atlantic Council made a working visit to the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn. On Friday, the Secretary General will visit NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission at Ämari and deliver a key note speech at the University of Tallinn entitled “Defending Allies, sharing responsibility, upholding values.”