10 March 2021

Foreign Secretary makes two-day visit to Baltic and Nordic states

10 March 2021

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is to visit Estonia and Norway for talks on the regional security threat posed by Russia and climate change.

The two-day visit comes as the Government prepares to announce the outcome of its wide-ranging review into foreign and defence policy on March 16.

The integrated review – covering foreign, defence, security and development policy – has been billed as the most significant overhaul of the UK’s strategic posture since the Cold War.

The Foreign Secretary’s visit also comes in the run up to the United Nations Cop26 summit, which will be hosted in Glasgow in November.

The security threat posed by Russia is felt most keenly by its neighbours

Mr Raab will visit Tallinn on Wednesday to attend talks with the Baltic states, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The countries are due to discuss regional security and the recovery from Covid-19, while the Foreign Secretary will sign an agreement with Estonia to reaffirm the defence partnership and cement the UK-Estonia relationship.

Mr Raab will then travel to Oslo on Thursday for talks with foreign ministers of the five Nordic nations – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – to discuss climate change and international security.

While in Norway he will sign a memorandum of understanding with the country to drive forward future science and research cooperation on the polar regions.

Ahead of the visit, Mr Raab said: “The security threat posed by Russia is felt most keenly by its neighbours.

“The UK is committed to standing with our close friends in the Nordic and Baltic regions, both militarily as well as in tackling Russia’s disinformation and destabilising regional activity.

“In the face of challenges such as climate change and protecting the polar regions, the need for like-minded nations to come together has never been more important.”

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