Forum of Defence Committees focusing on strengthening military defence starts in Tallinn

The forum is organised by the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia). The leaders of Defence Committees will discuss collective defence, the increasing of defence spending, and regional defence cooperation, as well as Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine and its implications for the international security architecture. Chairman of the National Defence Committee Kalev Stoicescu underlined that discussing security challenges and strengthening cooperation was particularly important in the current tense security situation.

Lieutenant General Bertrand Toujouse, Commander of French Forces Europe/Commander French LANDCOM, who is on a visit to Estonia, will participate in the forum as a special guest. Brigadier (Ret’d) Robbie Boyd from the United Kingdom will also deliver a report. Undersecretary for Defence Policy of the Ministry of the Defence of Estonia Tuuli Duneton and Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Estonia Martin Roger will give an overview of Estonia’s positions.

The forum will be held in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu. The key topics of discussion will be the priorities and challenges of defence and security policy in a broader sense, and the steps needed to achieve a militarily stronger Europe as soon as possible. On Friday, the representatives of Defence Committees will visit Ämari Airbase, where one of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing aviation units is located.

Leaders of the National Defence Committees of the parliaments of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden will participate in the forum. Chair of the National Defence Committee of the Parliament of the Netherlands will attend the forum as an observer. Representatives of Germany and France will also take part in the forum held in Tallinn.

The National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu has held annual working meetings with the National Defence Committees of the Baltic States since 1998. From 2011, the representatives of the National Defence Committees of the of the Nordic Countries, Germany and Poland have also been taking part in these meetings.

Photos (will be added in accordance with the programme; photographer: Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Forum of Defence Committees focusing on strengthening military defence starts in Tallinn

Source: Parliament of Estonia