The range of agreements signed between Estonia and the United States is very broad, comprising agreements in many areas. On the basis of the signed agreements, a steady and efficient co-operation is prevalent.

• Agreement on Extradition of Criminals (came into force 15 Nov 1924);
• Supplementary Agreement to the Agreement on Extradition of Criminals (came into force 7 May 1935)
• Bilateral Investment Incentive Agreement (came into force 28 Oct 1991);
• Agreement on Trade and Investment Relations (came into force 17 Sep 1992);
• Agreement on Fishing in the Waters of the United States of America (came into force 28 Dec 1992);
• Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments (came into force 16 Feb 1997);
• A Charter of Partnership Between the United States of America, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania (came into force 16 Jan 1998);
• Bilateral Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (came into force 30 Dec 1999);
• Memorandum between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia and the United States Department of State treating the automation of the export licensing system of Estonia (came into force 30 Dec 1999)
• Bilateral Agreement Concerning Security Measures for the Protection of Classified Military Information (came into force 23 Feb 2000);
• Bilateral Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (came into force 20 Oct 2000);
• Agreement Regarding Employment of Family Members of Diplomats in the Country of Assignment of the Diplomat (came into force 22 Nov 2000);
• Agreement on Law Enforcement (came into force 26 Jun 2003);
• Agreement on the Protection and Preservation of Certain Cultural Values (came into force 22 Jul 2003).
• Protocol to the Treaty for the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment (came into force 10 Aug 2004)
• Amendment to the Letter of Agreement on Law Enforcement concluded on 26 June 2003 (came into force 24 Sep 2004)
• Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Estonia on Enhancing Co-operation in Preventing and Combating Serious Crime (came into force 15.11.2008, except articles 8-10)
• Extradition Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the United States of America (came into force 07.04.2009)
• Agreement on research and technology co-operation (came into force 26.10.2009)
• Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the United States of America on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (came into force 01.02.2010)
• In November of 2008, the USA’s Visa Waiver Programme expanded to include Estonia, which allows Estonian citizens to travel to the USA with few formalities like other nations chosen by the USA.
• In 2012 a new agreement between the government of the Republic of Estonia and the government of the United States of America regarding the employment of family members of diplomats in the country of assignment of the diplomat was concluded, replacing the old agreement (came into force 19 June 2012).
• In April of 2014 an agreement of Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act FACTA was applied (came into force 09.07.2014).

The United States is an important economic partner for Estonia. The global operating of enterprises with the US origin and increasingly internationalizing supply chains often mean that the end consumer of an electronics component or device meant for some European country may well be in the United States.

Economic agreements

All major economic agreements have been concluded between Estonia and the US:

• Bilateral Investment Incentive Agreement (came into force 28 Oct 1991);
• Agreement on Trade and Investment Relations (came into force 17 Sep 1992);
• Agreement on Fishing in the Waters of the United States of America (came into force 28 Dec 1992);
• Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments (came into force 16 Feb 1997);
• Bilateral Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (came into force 30 Dec 1999);
• Agreement between the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia on the funding of the Tallinn Port security assistance project. (signed on 21 September 2006)

In the areas in the European Union’s competence, Estonia’s economic relations with the US are also regulated by agreements concluded between the EU and the US.

More detailed information about the export and import can be found from the application of Statistics Estonia. 

Estonian culture has been introduced by many actors, artists and musicians in the United States.

In defence policy and military matters, the United States is at the forefront of Estonia’s most important partners. Bilateral defence co-operation with the USA includes many different sectors, ranging from joint participation in operations to training and procurement projects.

The legal basis for bilateral defence co-operation between Estonia and the United States was formed by signing the memorandum on co-operation in defence and military relations by defence ministers in 1995. In 2000, the intergovernmental agreement for the protection of classified military intelligence was signed.

In 2002, the intergovernmental agreement on the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and on the development of defence and military relations was signed. In the summer of 2008, an agreement was signed that renewed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) for the next ten years. This agreement regulates the logistics support conditions of joint military exercises and operations.

Bilateral military co-operation with the United States covers many different areas, from joint participation in military operations to environmental projects in Estonia. The USA is one of Estonia’s most important partners in international operations, especially in Afghanistan. Regardless that Estonia's main partner in Afghanistan was the United Kingdom, the first unit of troops arrived to Afghanistan in late 2012 in the American unit. It is especially important to Estonia to work together in similar special international operations again in the future.

Training-related co-operation between the Baltic states and the USA has taken place with varying degrees of activity since the middle of the 1990s. So far the USA has participated in the NATO Baltic air policing mission four times (in 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2014). In late April 2014, the U.S. also brought 150 soldiers from the 173^rd Airborne Brigade, who remained here until the end of 2014. The company participated in exercises such as “Spring Storm” and took part in the Victory Day parade.

One cooperation sector with a lot of potential is cyber security. In November of 2011 the USA officially joined the NATO Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence located in Tallinn; currently there is one American cyber expert from the US Navy at the Centre, who has been working there since July 2011.

Since 1999 the United States is also an active participant in BALTDEFCOL (the Baltic Defence College) in Tartu. Students from the USA have participated in the JCGSC since 1999 (except for the period 2003-2006). During 2012-2013 three and during 2013-2014 two US students studied in JCGSC.

The United States has supported the development of Estonia’s Defence Forces; the most extensive assistance programmes are the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and the International Military Education and Training (IMET) programmes. Tens of millions of US dollars are allocated to these programmes each year. The FMF is a programme of annual allocations determined by the US Congress through which aid and loans are given to the USA’s allies for purchasing products, services or trainings from the US defence industry. 

Within the framework of IMET, various types of schooling and training are offered to the representatives of defence structures both in US educational institutions and in Estonia. Estonia has focused on the professional and technical training of junior officers and on the training of mid to high-ranking officers. In addition, specialty courses have recently been attended in the framework of the IMET that address military police, engineers, intelligence, communications, logistics, and air force.

EPINE (Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe), the framework for cooperation between the USA and the Nordic and Baltic states, was created in 2003. It essentially replaced the previous cooperation frameworks of the NEI (Northern European Initiative) and USA-Baltic charter after the Baltic states were accepted into NATO and the EU. The main goal of cooperation between nations with similar values (NB8+USA) is increasing the successfulness of freedom, security and economy in the region and in its surrounding neighbourhoods (in Moldova, Ukraine, Southern Caucasia and Belarus). EPINE cooperation focuses on the following areas:

• Security issues, which involves cooperation in counterterrorism and the fight against weapons of mass destruction, but also in NATO, PfP programs, and the OSCE.
• Questions of economic policy, primarily in strengthening investments, goods exchange and business connections, and also coordinating development cooperation.

Within the framework of EPINE, meetings of NB8+USA political leaders and development cooperation experts generally take place twice a year. For all parties involved, EPINE has become a highly valued meeting format with an open and honest atmosphere.

Estonian Americans form a small, but culturally active community in America that had its roots in the beginning of the 20th century.The community saw its largest expansion in the mid-20th century, after the tragic events of World War II. Refugees of that period constituted a large new wave of Estonians who settled in various areas throughout the country. Their unwavering support for Estonia’s freedom and active maintenance of Estonian culture and traditions helped preserve their heritage. A third wave of Estonians is represented by those who have arrived since the restoration of the independence of Estonia in 1991.

According to the 2000 United States Census, 25,034 persons of Estonian ancestry live in the United States.  Due to the methodology of the survey, this number only reflects those who indicate their Estonian origins in the population registry.  The traditional centres of residence and culture for Estonians are situated on the East Coast (New York, New Jersey), in the Mid-West, and on the West Coast.

There are currently 22 Estonian Societies functioning in the United States, alongside with choirs, church congregations, alliances and Estonian Houses.  Altogether there are over 100 organizations. The oldest is the Detroit Estonian Educational Society “Kodu”, which was created  in 1926 by 25 enterprising Estonians. Estonian societies in San Francisco and southern California were formed in 1928 and the New York Estonian Educational Society was established in 1929. The current Estonian House in New York was purchased in 1946. Others were purchased in the 50s and 60s by regional organisations that still function in Lakewood, NJ, Baltimore, Chicago and Los Angeles.  

Estonians in America have carried on their people’s long tradition of singing and folk dancing. The most notable Estonian choir is the New York Estonian Men’s Choir, which was established in 1950.  Similar singing groups have flourished on a smaller scale in virtually every Estonian-American community.

The only Estonian-language newspaper is Vaba Eesti Sõna (Free Estonian Word), published in New York.  The Estonian language is taught at Indiana University (since 1970), where it is also possible to study Baltic history (beginning in 1918) and Estonian culture and civilization. The Estonian language is also taught at the University of Washington in Seattle.  Estonian literature that has been published in the United States is covered in the series “Estonian Literature in Exile in the 20th Century” (Eesti Kirjandus Paguluses XX Sajandil).

In 1952, Estonians in the United States formed the Estonian American National Council (Eesti Rahvuskomitee Ühendriikides – ERKÜ), which consists of members elected quadrennially from across the country, who then elect a board of directors.  Until 1991, the primary goal of the organization was to restore Estonia’s freedom. In recent years, its activities have focused on preserving and promoting Estonian culture, history and language in the United States, as well as support for the legitimate aspirations of the Republic of Estonia in the global community.

In 1961, the three Baltic national organizations in America formed the Joint Baltic American National Council (JBANC) in order to increase the efficiency of their efforts for restoring independence and to bring more attention to the lack of human rights and democracy in the Baltic states. Today the organisation helps to support national interests of the Baltic states by exchanging information and by organizing economic and security policy conferences and seminars.
 
Estonians in the USA celebrate traditional Estonian holidays together, while organizing social and youth gatherings or cultural events. Good examples of diverse Estonian events in America are the West Coast Estonian Days, which take place every two years in a west coast city, Cultural Days (Kultuuripäevad) held in New York and the annual Mid-West Estonian Youth Congress (KLENK).