President Alar Karis meets with members of British parliament’s Estonia friendship group

Meeting with members of the UK House of Commons Estonia friendship group in London today, President Alar Karis discussed defence cooperation between the two countries, support for Ukraine, the international security situation, transatlantic relations and opportunities for cooperation in the fields of culture, the economy and digital state development. He highlighted the close alliance between Estonia and the UK and their common understanding that the defence of security and international law requires consistent and coordinated action.

The head of state thanked the UK for its permanent and visible military presence in Estonia. "Your contribution to the defence of Estonia and to the eastern flank of NATO as a whole is crucial," he remarked. "Having a British battlegroup on our soil also sends a clear and unambiguous message to Russia."

Support for Ukraine and actions to counter Russia's war of aggression were also discussed. President Karis stressed that attention must continue to be focused on Ukraine even while other crises are unfolding. "We must ramp up pressure on Russia and increase our support for Ukraine, not allow either to decrease," he urged. "A poor peace for the Ukrainians would be a poor peace for Europe as a whole." He also underscored the importance of a stringent policy on sanctions. "The revenue Russia is generating from energy must be curbed, and measures to combat its shadow fleet must be bolstered," he said. "We need to restrict Russia's exports of fossil fuels and rein in third parties who help the Russians circumvent the sanctions imposed upon them. The shadow fleet is a threat to both the environment and our critical infrastructure."

The head of state commended the UK for its leading role in supporting Ukraine, highlighted the country's contribution to preparations for the Coalition of the Willing, and stressed the need for swift progress in establishing the Special Tribunal and launching the Claims Commission. "The aggressor must not go unpunished," he insisted. "International justice must prevail."

On the topic of international security, discussions turned to the situation in the Middle East and Iran. President Karis said that further escalation must be avoided and freedom of navigation ensured in the Strait of Hormuz. He also mentioned the importance of cooperation between Europe and the USA.

In other discussions, the head of state spoke to the members of the friendship group about opportunities for cooperation in the fields of culture, the economy, digital development and cybersecurity. He highlighted the partnership between Estonia and the UK in promoting an open and secure cyberspace, saying that both countries see potential for cooperation in the areas of AI (including Estonia's AI Leap programme) and innovation.

President Karis is on a visit to the United Kingdom to showcase Estonia's digital state experience at the UK's biggest public-sector innovation conference, Global Government Forum.

Gallery (Raigo Pajula/Office of the President): https://www.flickr.com/photos/presidendikantselei/albums