At a solemn ceremony, Minister of Defence Kalle Laanet presented medals to the French contingent serving in Tapa, and thanked the soldiers for ensuring Estonia’s security.
In his speech, Minister of Defence Laanet noted that the reason why French, British and Danish soldiers are serving in Estonia has not gone away.
“The behaviour by our neighbour to the east continues to escalate, while being hostile and aggressive, which is why NATO must always be vigilant, ensure effective deterrence and, if necessary, react,” Laanet noted, citing recent events in Belarus.
“Your presence shows that we have adapted to the security environment as needed,” he said. Laanet added that the readiness of the Allied Battlegroup to integrate into the 1st Infantry Brigade as a combat-capable unit shows solidarity and determination.
“Estonian-French defence co-operation has significantly deepened over the last decade and brought us closer together,” said Laanet. Estonia, together with the French, is contributing to Operation Barkhane, in Mali.
He added that the increased presence of the Allies in the Baltic Sea region helps to ensure peace throughout Europe.
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