On 6 November, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu met with the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin. The ministers discussed bilateral relations and current foreign policy issues. Their talks focused on transatlantic relations, defence and security issues and, under regional cooperation, the Three Seas Initiative. They also talked about the upcoming German Presidency of the Council of the EU and Estonia’s upcoming membership of the UN Security Council.
At the meeting, the Estonian and German foreign ministers reaffirmed that relations between the two countries remained excellent, both bilaterally as well as in international organisations. “Germany is an important economic partner for Estonia. We also see opportunities in our already effective cooperation for further enhancement, for example in the high-tech sector and cooperation of startups,” Reinsalu said.
“Next year, Estonia and Germany will both be non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, which allows us to advocate for shared objectives,” Foreign Minister Reinsalu said, referring to climate and security issues, the protection of human rights and crisis prevention. Both Estonia and Germany consider it crucial to maintain and strengthen the rules-based international order.
Touching on security issues, Foreign Minister Reinsalu said that Germany and Estonia were close allies dedicated to ensuring and protecting the security of the region. “This is demonstrated by the enhanced presence of NATO allies in our region and Germany’s significant contribution to our air policing,” Reinsalu said, adding that boosting NATO deterrence requires excellent relations between allies and unity.
On the subject of the Three Seas Initiative, Reinsalu said that Estonia completely shared the aims of the initiative, which would raise the political profile of the region and contribute to increased prosperity in the European Union in general.
Foreign Minister Reinsalu wished his German counterpart good luck for the upcoming German Presidency of the Council of the European Union and said that with its extensive experience and dedication to the European Union, Germany as a founding member of the EU would no doubt have a successful presidency.
This morning, the Foreign Minister also met the parliamentary group leader of the CDU party Ralph Brinkhaus, discussing cooperation of the two countries, the UN Security Council and various current European Union affairs. The Estonian Foreign Minister also met the former president of the World Bank Robert B. Zoellick. The minister spoke at a forum that was organised by the Aspen Institute with a focus on the importance of transatlantic relations.
In the evening, Foreign Minister Reinsalu attends a cultural evening marking 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry/albums/72157711666332787
Additional information:
Liisa Toots
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Media Adviser, Communication Department
[email protected]
+372 637 7628