Tsahkna discusses security issues with Australian counterpart

TALLINN - Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra on Thursday to discuss the closely linked security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, developments in the Middle East, cyber cooperation, the launch of a special tribunal, and cooperation on critical raw materials.

"Despite the great distance, Estonia and Australia are united by a shared understanding of the importance of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is why Australia has taken a clear stance on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine."

"Since the start of the full-scale aggression, Australia has supported Ukraine militarily and, along with New Zealand, is one of the only non-NATO countries contributing to NATO's PURL arms assistance initiative. Australia is also involved in developing security guarantees for Ukraine. Furthermore, Australia has imposed strong sanctions against Russia," Tsahkna said. "Australia understands that changing borders by force of arms anywhere in the world also affects its own security."

The foreign ministers also discussed the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, deterring the shadow fleet, and issues related to disinformation and cybersecurity.

"There are many areas that know no borders and are a common problem for both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region," Tsahkna said, adding that cooperation would be particularly effective in the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) format, which Estonia is chairing this year.

The meeting also covered the launch of a special tribunal to hold Russia's leadership accountable for the crime of aggression, and the threat posed by Russian combatants to the internal security of Western nations.

Another important topic during the ongoing visit to Australia is cooperation on critical raw materials to ensure diverse supply chains and uninterrupted access to strategic resources.

"We proposed creating a working group to enhance cooperation in the area of critical raw materials," Tsahkna said.

Issues concerning critical raw materials were also discussed with Australian Minister for Trade Don Farrell. Additionally, during his meeting with Farrell, Tsahkna expressed hope that the European Union and Australia would soon conclude a free trade agreement.

On Thursday, Tsahkna also met in Canberra with Australian Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil, with whom he discussed the military lessons learned from Russia's aggression against Ukraine and NATO's cooperation with Australia and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

"Estonia and Australia share the understanding that investing in strengthening defense and deterrence posture is an investment in peace, and that contributing to Ukraine's support also secures the supporter's own security," Tsahkna stated.

In the Australian Parliament on Thursday, meetings were also held with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick; the chair of the parliamentary Estonia friendship group, Senator Deborah O’Neill, and its members; and the chair of the Australian Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Ralph Neumann, and committee members.

The foreign minister delivered a keynote speech at the conference 'Drones in Modern Warfare: Lessons Learnt from the War in Ukraine' held in Canberra, where he emphasized the lessons learned from Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

"In resisting Russian aggression, Ukraine has acquired knowledge and skills from which everyone can learn," Tsahkna said in his speech. "Ukraine is increasingly becoming a nation that not only needs support but also helps to ensure the security of other countries."