News story

Foreign Secretary supporting European security

The Foreign Secretary has arrived in Estonia for high-level talks with EU foreign ministers

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

He will take part in an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers (known as the Gymnich). The agenda includes key foreign policy challenges, including North Korea’s missile tests, Russian aggression, migration, and Syria.

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary will hold a bilateral meeting with the Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas. This follows the Foreign Secretary’s meeting with eight Nordic and Baltic Foreign Ministers in London on Monday 4 September.

The Foreign Secretary will see the best of British technology at our “Cyberscrum and Futurism Conference”. The UK organised event allows 10 British companies to showcase their cutting edge products from self-driving robotic delivery vehicles to high speed trains to cyber security. Trade between the UK and Estonia is worth more than £530m.

The Foreign Secretary will visit the 800 British troops based in Estonia, as part of the UK’s commitment to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

Europe is facing a number of shared challenges, from migration in the south to the threat of terror in many of our major cities.

The UK is, and will remain, at the front of international efforts to tackle these challenges. Working alongside the EU, our European neighbours and NATO allies we are bringing our expertise, security capabilities, development work and global network to the table.

Our troop commitment to Estonia is just one part of our broader and diverse partnership. Whether it’s the 15,000 Estonians in the UK or British companies in Estonia, we will continue to boost our relationship across the board.

Further information

Media enquiries

For journalists

Updates to this page

Published 7 September 2017