Estonia–United States relations
Encyclopedia
Estonian-U.S. relations are bilateral relations between Estonia
and the United States
. The relationship has been constant and strong since Estonia first became independent. The United States and Estonia are important allies and partners.
from 1940 to 1991. The U.S. government recognized Estonia's diplomatic mission as a legal representative of the Republic of Estonia. The recognition of the legal continuity of the Republic of Estonia has been the cornerstone of Estonian-U.S. relations.
The U.S. reopened its embassy in Tallinn
on September 4, 1991. Relations between the two countries have since developed rapidly. In November 2006, President George W. Bush
became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Estonia. During the visit, he announced the administration's intention to work with the U.S. Congress to make changes to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, increasing security while facilitating entry for legitimate visitors and businesspeople from countries like Estonia.
President Obama nominated Michael C. Polt
as ambassador
to Estonia and he was sworn in on November 30, 2009. Ambassador Polt presented his credentials to Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on December 10, 2009. Mrs. Marina Kaljurand in September of 2011 replaced Mr. Väino Reinart who had been serving as Estonia's ambassador to the United States since September 2007. Estonia also is represented in the United States by a consulate general in New York, Sten Schwede; and ten honorary consuls: Jaak Treiman in Los Angeles, Eric Harkna in Chicago, Irja Cilluffo in New Hampshire, Paul Aarne Raidna in Seattle, Richard Drake in Houston, Larry Ruth in Lincoln, Harry Huge in Charleston, Michael Corey Chan in Scottsdale, Aadu Allpere in Atlanta, and Gerard McGovern in New Orleans.
Estonia maintains an Embassy in Washington, D.C., a consulate general in New York
and has honorary consuls in Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; Houston, TX; Portsmouth, NH; Lincoln, NE; Charleston, SC and Scottsdale, AZ.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The relationship has been constant and strong since Estonia first became independent. The United States and Estonia are important allies and partners.
History
The United States recognized the Republic of Estonia de iure on July 28, 1922. The first Estonian diplomatic mission in the United States was opened in the same year. It continued its activities throughout the period of occupation by the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
from 1940 to 1991. The U.S. government recognized Estonia's diplomatic mission as a legal representative of the Republic of Estonia. The recognition of the legal continuity of the Republic of Estonia has been the cornerstone of Estonian-U.S. relations.
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
on September 4, 1991. Relations between the two countries have since developed rapidly. In November 2006, President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Estonia. During the visit, he announced the administration's intention to work with the U.S. Congress to make changes to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, increasing security while facilitating entry for legitimate visitors and businesspeople from countries like Estonia.
President Obama nominated Michael C. Polt
Michael C. Polt
Ambassador Polt was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia on November 30, 2009. He presented his credentials to Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on December 10, 2009....
as ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Estonia and he was sworn in on November 30, 2009. Ambassador Polt presented his credentials to Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on December 10, 2009. Mrs. Marina Kaljurand in September of 2011 replaced Mr. Väino Reinart who had been serving as Estonia's ambassador to the United States since September 2007. Estonia also is represented in the United States by a consulate general in New York, Sten Schwede; and ten honorary consuls: Jaak Treiman in Los Angeles, Eric Harkna in Chicago, Irja Cilluffo in New Hampshire, Paul Aarne Raidna in Seattle, Richard Drake in Houston, Larry Ruth in Lincoln, Harry Huge in Charleston, Michael Corey Chan in Scottsdale, Aadu Allpere in Atlanta, and Gerard McGovern in New Orleans.
Principal U.S. Officials in Estonia
- AmbassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
- Mr. Michael C. Polt - Deputy Chief of Mission - Mr. Robert Gilchrist
- Head of Political/Economic Section - Mr. Marc Nordberg
- Management Officer - VACANT
- Legal Attaché - Mr. Kirk Striebich
- Consul - Mr. Patrick McNeil
- Public Affairs Officer - Mr. James G. Land
- Senior Defense Officer - Lt. Colonel Robert Williams
Principal Estonian Officials in US - Embassy
- AmbassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
- Mrs. Marina Kaljurand - Deputy Chief of Mission - Mrs. Kyllike Sillaste - Elling
- First Secretary / Political Affairs - Mr. Oleg Dmitrijev
- Economic Affairs Officer - Mrs. Lea Aasamaa
- Public/Cultural Affairs Officer - Ms. Terje Raadik
- Defense Attache - Colonel Aivar Salekešin
- Counsellor / Defense - Mr. Kristjan Prikk
- Consul General - Mr. Sten Schwede
- Consul - Mrs. Piia Pärna
Estonian Honorary Consuls in US
- Los Angeles, CA - Mr. Jaak Treiman, Esq.
- Chicago, IL - Mr. Eric Harkna
- Portsmouth, NH - Mrs. Irja Cilluffo
- Seattle, WA - Mr. Paul Aarne Raidna
- Houston, TX - Mr. F. Richard Drake
- Phoenix, AZ - Mr. Michael Corey Chan
- Lincoln, NE - Mr. Larry Ruth, Esq.
- Charleston, SC - Mr. Harry Huge, Esq.
- Atlanta, GA - Mr. Aadu Allpere
- New Orleans, LA - Mr. Gerard McGovern
Embassies
The U.S. Embassy in Estonia is located in Tallinn.Estonia maintains an Embassy in Washington, D.C., a consulate general in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and has honorary consuls in Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; Houston, TX; Portsmouth, NH; Lincoln, NE; Charleston, SC and Scottsdale, AZ.
See also
- Foreign relations of the United StatesForeign relations of the United StatesThe United States has formal diplomatic relations with most nations. The United States federal statutes relating to foreign relations can be found in Title 22 of the United States Code.-Pacific:-Americas:-Caribbean:...
- Foreign relations of EstoniaForeign relations of EstoniaFollowing restoration of independence from the Soviet Union, Russia was one of the first nations to recognise Estonia's independence . Estonia's immediate priority after regaining its independence was the withdrawal of Russian forces from Estonian territory. In August 1994, this was completed...
- New York Estonian HouseNew York Estonian HouseThe New York Estonian House is a 3-story Beaux-Arts building located at 243 East 34th Street in the Kips Bay neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The building was designated as a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1978.The house was originally...