Mihkelson discussing security situation, cooperation with US in Washington

TALLINN - Chairman of the Estonian parliament's foreign affairs committee Marko Mihkelson is in Washington, D.C. from Sunday until Wednesday to discuss the security situation and further cooperation with the United States.

He is joined on his visit by parliamentarians from France, Germany and Poland, spokespeople for the Estonian parliament said.

The main focus at the high-level meetings is on trans-Atlantic security and cooperation with the US.

"Europe is increasing its defense spending, strengthening its independent defense capability, and willingly assuming more responsibility in NATO, but while doing this, we want to maintain our strong allied relations with the US. A strong US presence in Europe is crucial for trans-Atlantic security," Mihkelson said, adding that another aim is to demonstrate European unity in supporting Ukraine.

The parliamentarians of the four countries are meeting with members of the US Congress, including the heads of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and of the European subcommittees of both chambers. They will also take part in meetings at the National Security Council and the Department of State, as well as in expert roundtables in leading think tanks.

In addition to Mihkelson, other participants include Paweł Kowal, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Polish Sejm, Natalia Pouzyreff, member of the national defense and armed forces committee of the French National Assembly, and Norbert Röttgen, member of the German Bundestag and former chairman of the foreign affairs committee.

The visit is organized by the Polish think tank Casimir Pulaski Foundation, which is the organizing body of the Warsaw Security Forum.