Estonian PM meets with U.S. VP on EU-US cooperation

Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas on Sunday met with visiting U.S.

Vice President Mike Pence on bilateral defense cooperation and EU-U.S.

cooperation.

The two discussed cooperation in defence, digital issues and cyber

security, as well as cooperation between the United States and the EU in

connection with the Estonia Presidency of the Council of the European

Union.

"The Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU certainly wants to

contribute to strengthening transatlantic relations and, within the

framework of these relations, to the development of international trade

and the fight against terrorism and cyber threats," Ratas said in a

statement.

Making progress on the EU-U.S. free trade agreement would be strategically important for the U.S. and Europe alike, he added.

The Estonian digital solutions are of interest to the United States,

according to the Estonian prime minister, who noted that the two

countries have an excellent cooperation in the field of cybersecurity.

He added that joint exercises and an exchange of information and experts provide an opportunity to further enhance it.

Pence arrived here earlier in the afternoon for a two-day visit, which will also take him to Georgia and Montenegro.

On Monday morning, the presidents of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,

Kersti Kaljulaid, Raimonds Vejonis and Dalia Grybauskaite, respectively,

are set to meet with Pence and participate in a roundtable discussion

on cyber issues and innovation.

The U.S. vice president is also scheduled to be given a presentation

of the tasks of the local NATO battlegroup, and meet with NATO

personnel.