US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III Meets Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur
On Tuesday, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III met with Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur at the Pentagon. They discussed important regional and bilateral issues, focusing on enhancing NATO’s defence capabilities and the need for continued joint military exercises.
Key Discussion Points
Their discussions included:
- Strengthening NATO’s credible deterrence and defence
- Increasing interoperability and efficiency between military forces through joint exercises
- The US’s continued rotational presence in the Baltics
- Increased defence production to support Ukraine and replenish Allied munitions
- Outcomes from the Washington NATO Summit
Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of NATO Alliance unity and countering Russian aggression in Ukraine. He shared on X, “Superb meeting with steadfast Baltic Ally, @MoD_Estonia @Hanno Pevkur and I reaffirmed our ironclad commitment to NATO’s credible deterrence and defence and our continued support for Ukraine. #WeAreNATO.”
Estonia’s Commitment
Defence Minister Pevkur highlighted Estonia’s commitment to defence spending, dedicating more than three per cent of its GDP to defence and host nation support for Allied forces. Secretary Austin praised Estonia’s contributions to the Alliance and support for Ukraine.
Both leaders committed to working closely together to ensure the continued defence credibility and security of NATO’s Eastern Flank.
Doubts Revealed
US Secretary of Defence -: The US Secretary of Defence is the head of the Department of Defence in the United States. This person is responsible for overseeing all branches of the military and ensuring the country’s security.
Lloyd J. Austin III -: Lloyd J. Austin III is the current US Secretary of Defence. He is a retired four-star general in the United States Army.
Estonian Defence Minister -: The Estonian Defence Minister is the person in charge of the defence and military affairs of Estonia, a small country in Europe.
Hanno Pevkur -: Hanno Pevkur is the current Defence Minister of Estonia. He is responsible for the country’s defence policies and military operations.
NATO -: NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is a group of countries from Europe and North America that work together to ensure their mutual defence and security.
Pentagon -: The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defence. It is a large building located in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.
Russian aggression in Ukraine -: Russian aggression in Ukraine refers to the conflict where Russia has been involved in military actions against Ukraine, including the annexation of Crimea and support for separatist movements.
Defence spending -: Defence spending is the amount of money a country uses to maintain and improve its military forces and capabilities.