During today's meeting with Major General Janeen L. Birckhead, the Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard of the United States, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur expressed his gratitude for Maryland's 30 years of dedicated cooperation and support to Estonia. Since the restoration of Estonia's independence, the Estonian Defence Forces and the Defence League, together with the Maryland National Guard, have developed military cooperation.
"The contribution of the Maryland National Guard to the development of our Defence Forces throughout these decades has been invaluable. We engage in close military cooperation in various areas. For example, the Maryland National Guard participated in this year's major exercise Spring Storm, led by the Estonian Division. The collaboration between the Defence League and the Maryland cyber defence units, as well as the Women's Voluntary Defence Organization (Naiskodukaitse), with the Americans in the field of civil defence and evacuation, has been excellent. Six A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft based at the Ämari Air Base and participating in exercises in Estonia belong to the 175th Wing of the Maryland National Guard's Air Force," said Pevkur.
Defence Minister Pevkur briefed Major General Birckhead on recent developments in the Estonian Defence Forces and Estonia´s investments in enhancing its defence capabilities. Additionally, they discussed defence cooperation between Estonia and the United States and the reinforcement of Estonia's military defence.
Through the State Partnership Program (SPP), the Maryland National Guard became an official partner of the Estonian Defence Forces in 1993. Training was organized for the Defence League, Border Guard, Rescue Board, and the Defence Forces. In 1998, the collaboration between the state of Maryland and Estonia expanded beyond military cooperation to encompass a wider range of collaboration. Sister city connections were established between cities in Estonia and Maryland, fostering academic relationships between the universities of Tartu and Salisbury, and business partnership began.
Photo of the meeting.
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