stringtranslate.com

Foreign relations of Estonia

The Republic of Estonia gained its independence from the Russian Empire on 24 February 1918 and established diplomatic relations with many countries via membership of the League of Nations. The forcible incorporation of Estonia into the Soviet Union in 1940 was not generally recognised by the international community and the Estonian diplomatic service continued to operate in some countries. Following the restoration of independence from the Soviet Union, Russia was one of the first nations to re-recognize Estonia's independence (the first country to do so was Iceland on 22 August 1991). Estonia's immediate priority after regaining its independence was the withdrawal of Russian (formerly Soviet) forces from Estonian territory. In August 1994, this was completed. However, relations with Moscow have remained strained primarily because Russia decided not to ratify the border treaty it had signed with Estonia in 1999.

Trends following re-independence

Since regaining independence, Estonia has pursued a foreign policy of close cooperation with Western European nations.

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and President George W. Bush, in Estonia 2006.

The two most important policy objectives in this regard have been accession into NATO and the European Union, achieved in March and May 2004 respectively. Estonia's international realignment toward the West has been accompanied by a general deterioration in relations with Russia, most recently demonstrated by the controversy surrounding relocation of the Bronze Soldier WWII memorial in Tallinn.[1] Estonia has become an increasingly strong supporter of deepening European integration. The decision to participate in the preparation of a financial transaction tax in 2012 reflects this shift in Estonia's EU policy.[2]

An important element in Estonia's post-independence reorientation has been closer ties with the Nordic countries, especially Finland and Sweden. Indeed, Estonians consider themselves a Nordic people due to being Finnic people like the Finns rather than Balts,[3][4] based on their historical ties with Denmark and particularly Finland and Sweden. In December 1999 Estonian foreign minister (and since 2006, president of Estonia) Toomas Hendrik Ilves delivered a speech entitled "Estonia as a Nordic Country" to the Swedish Institute for International Affairs.[5] In 2003, the foreign ministry also hosted an exhibit called "Estonia: Nordic with a Twist".[6] And in 2005, Estonia joined the European Union's Nordic Battle Group. It has also shown continued interest in becoming a full member in the Nordic Council.

Whereas in 1992 Russia accounted for 92% of Estonia's international trade,[7] today there is extensive economic interdependence between Estonia and its Nordic neighbors: three-quarters of foreign investment in Estonia originates in the Nordic countries (principally Finland and Sweden), to which Estonia sends 42% of its exports (as compared to 6.5% going to Russia, 8.8% to Latvia, and 4.7% to Lithuania). On the other hand, the Estonian political system, its flat rate of income tax, and its non-welfare-state model distinguish it from the other Nordic states, and indeed from many other European countries.[8]

Estonia is a party to 181 international organizations, including the BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (member since 1 May 2004), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, NATO, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO.

International disputes

Territorial issues between Estonia and Russia

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 18 April 2019

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union Estonia had hoped for the return of more than 2,000 square kilometers of territory annexed to Russia after World War II in 1945. The annexed land had been within the borders Estonia approved by Russia in the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty. However, the Boris Yeltsin government disavowed any responsibility for acts committed by the Soviet Union.

After signing the border treaty by the corresponding foreign minister in 2005, it was ratified by the Estonian government and president. The Russian side interpreted the preamble as giving Estonia a possibility for future territorial claim, and Vladimir Putin notified Estonia that Russia will not consider these. Negotiations were reopened in 2012 and the Treaty was signed in February 2014. Ratification is still pending.[9]

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Estonia maintains diplomatic relations with:

Bilateral relations

Multilateral

Africa

Americas

Asia

Europe

Oceania

See also

References

  1. ^ "Estonia blames Russia for unrest". BBC News. 29 April 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  2. ^ "Estonia strives to be at the core of the EU". The Finnish Institute of International Affairs. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  3. ^ Estonian foreign ministry publication Archived 25 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, 2004
  4. ^ Estonian foreign ministry publication Archived 7 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, 2002
  5. ^ "NATO :: NATO :: Estonia as a Nordic Country". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  6. ^ "Estonia - Nordic with a Twist". Archived from the original on 8 February 2008.
  7. ^ "The Estonian Economic Miracle". The Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 March 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Foreign investment
  9. ^ "Estonia, Russia to exchange 128.6 hectares of land under border treaty". Estonian news - news.postimees.ee. 28 May 2013.
  10. ^ "Diplomaatiliste suhete (taas)kehtestamise kronoloogia" (in Estonian). 30 January 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  11. ^ "History of Diplomatic Relations (Embassy of Estonia in Riga)".
  12. ^ "List of countries with which Lithuania has established diplomatic relations". Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Eesti ja Kongo vabariik sõlmisid diplomaatilised suhted". EestiPäevaleht (in Estonian). 27 April 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Diplomatic relations between Tonga and ..." Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Estonia and Cook Islands establish diplomatic relations". MFA Estonia. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Ethiopia | Ministry of Foreign Affairs".
  17. ^ "Estonia appoints a chargé d'affaires to Addis Ababa".
  18. ^ "Estonia Established Diplomatic Relations with Lesotho | Ministry of Foreign Affairs". vm.ee.
  19. ^ "Diplomaatiliste suhete (taas)kehtestamise kronoloogia | Välisministeerium". vm.ee.
  20. ^ "Office of the embassy of Canada in Tallinn". Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  21. ^ "Frontpage". Ottawa.
  22. ^ a b c d Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Estonia and Chile Archived 3 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ Elektrooniline Riigi Teataja: Eesti Vabariigi valitsuse ja Tšiili Vabariigi valitsuse vaheline turistide viisakohustuse kaotamise kokkulepe
  24. ^ "NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources". Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  25. ^ Estonian Cabinet of Ministers: Prime Minister spoke with the President of Chile about the common interests of both states
  26. ^ Õhtuleht Eesti ja Tšiili ühine postmark, 25 October 2006
  27. ^ "- Cancillería". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  28. ^ "Costa Rica | Ministry of Foreign Affairs". vm.ee.
  29. ^ "Cuba | Ministry of Foreign Affairs". vm.ee.
  30. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ "Frontpage". Washington.
  32. ^ "Embassy of Mexico in Finland | Embajada de México en Finlandia". embamex.sre.gob.mx.
  33. ^ "High-level meetings between Estonia, St. Kitts-Nevis begin". 13 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Embassy of Estonia in Washington, D.C."
  35. ^ "Embassy of the United States in Tallinn".
  36. ^ Lawler, Dave (2 July 2020). "The 53 countries supporting China's crackdown on Hong Kong". Axios. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  37. ^ "Iran | Ministry of Foreign Affairs". vm.ee.
  38. ^ a b "Bilateral relations (Estonia and Malaysia)". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  39. ^ "Eesti saatkond".
  40. ^ "HRVATSKA I ESTONIJA POTPISALE SPORAZUM O UKIDANJU VIZA I READMISIJI". Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  41. ^ "Avaleht | Välisministeerium". vm.ee. Archived from the original on 3 August 2007.
  42. ^ a b Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Estonia and Luxembourg". Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  43. ^ "Mémorial A n° 76 de 1935 - Legilux". legilux.public.lu.
  44. ^ "AGREEMENT ON ROAD TRANSPORT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA, THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA, THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA, THE KINGDOM OF". Archived from the original on 10 December 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  45. ^ "United Nations - Office of Legal Affairs". legal.un.org.
  46. ^ "Estemb in Oslo". Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  47. ^ "Norra - ametlik kodulehekülg Eestis". Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  48. ^ "Estonian Embassy in Poland". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  49. ^ Kristina Kallas, Eesti Vabariigi ja Vene Föderatsiooni riikidevahelised läbirääkimised aastatel 1990–1994 Archived 25 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine - Tartu 2000
  50. ^ Eesti Ekspress: Ta astus sajandist pikema sammu - Boriss Jeltsin 1931-2007 Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 25 April 2007
  51. ^ Citizenship Act of Estonia (§ 5. Acquisition of Estonian citizenship by birth): "Citizenship Act of Estonia (1995, consolidated March 2004) - Legislationline - free online legislation database". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  52. ^ "OUTWARD STATE VISITS MADE BY THE QUEEN SINCE 1952". Official web site of the British Monarchy. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  53. ^ "Prince Harry pays tribute to Estonia's soldiers during visit". BBC News. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  54. ^ "Pop up embassy opens in Estonia, Media release, 07 Mar 2018, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Julie Bishop MP". foreignminister.gov.au. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  55. ^ "Estonia". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  56. ^ "Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Australia". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  57. ^ "New Zealand | Ministry of Foreign Affairs". vm.ee.
  58. ^ "Countries with Established Diplomatic Relations with Samoa | Samoa Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade".