David Davis concludes visit to Estonia
UK will remain our European partners’ greatest ally in security and defence.
![David David visits Estonia](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a6179f1e5274a0a204845b2/s300_Screen_Shot_2017-11-23_at_15.28.40.png)
David Davis has pledged that the UK will remain the greatest ally of our European partners in matters of security and defence after Brexit.
The Brexit Secretary made the remarks following a visit to Estonia, where 800 British troops are stationed as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP). eFP comprises of four multinational NATO battalions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland designed to protect Europe’s eastern flank.
David Davis held political meetings with Estonian Europe Minister Matti Maasikas and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson. Reaffirming the UK’s commitment to European security, the Brexit Secretary said the UK will offer to continue to contribute expertise and assets to EU operations, cooperate on sanctions and agree joint positions on foreign policy as part of a deep security partnership with the EU after Brexit.
He also highlighted the UK and Estonia’s shared values, including around the importance of free trade, and reiterated the UK’s pledge that no country will be financially worse off over the current budget plan because of the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis said:
“In exiting the EU the UK is not pulling up the drawbridge or turning away from our friends across the Continent.
“We will remain our European neighbours’ greatest ally in security and defence, cooperating fully in order to tackle the global threats we jointly face.
“And we will ensure that no Members will need to pay more or receive less money over the remainder of the current budget plan as a result of our decision to leave.”