Estonia–United States relations

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 in 1991. The United States and Estonia are important allies and partners.[1]

Estonia – United States relations

Estonia
United States

According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 31% of Estonians approve of U.S. leadership, with 32% disapproving and 37% uncertain.[2]

History

The United States recognized the Republic of Estonia de jure on July 28, 1922. The first Estonian diplomatic mission in the United States was opened in the same year when the U.S. Commissioner at Riga, Evan Young, was declared the American representative to the three Baltic States, at the rank of Minister. An embassy in Tallinn was opened on June 30th 1930 with Harry E. Carlson as Chargé d'affaires. Following the Soviet occupation in August 1940 the American Embassy was closed in September 1940. However, the US government never recognized the legitimacy of the Soviet Rule in Estonia (1940 to 1991) and continued recognizing Estonia's diplomatic mission in the US as the 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. [3]

George W. Bush with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in 2006.
President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas in the Ämari Air Base, Estonia

On September 2, 1991, US President George H.W. Bush recognized the restoration of Estonia's independence. 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 Barack Obama nominated Jeffrey D. Levine as ambassador to Estonia and he was confirmed by the Senate on March 29, 2012. Ambassador Levine presented his credentials to Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on September 17, 2012. Mrs. Marina Kaljurand, in September 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 and Siim Soot in Chicago, Paul Aarne Raidna in Seattle, Larry Ruth in Lincoln, Harry Huge in Charleston, Michael Corey Chan in San Diego, Aadu Allpere in Atlanta, and Steve Chucri in Phoenix.

Principal U.S. Officials in Estonia
Embassy of Estonia in Washington, D.C.
  • Ambassador/Chargé d’Affaires - Brian Roraff
  • ODC Chief: Robert Padgett
  • Defense Attaché: Povilas Strazdas
  • Naval Attaché: CDR Albert Geis
  • Assistant Legal Attaché: Michael Kolessar
  • Management Officer: Teresa Rotunno
  • Political/Economic Chief: John Spykerman
  • Public Affairs Officer: Ed Dunn
  • Regional Security Officer: Omar Facuse
  • Consul: Carlo Boehm

Principal Estonian Officials in US - Embassy
  • Ambassador - H.E. Mr. Jonatan Vseviov
  • Deputy Chief of Mission - Sven Jurgenson
  • First Secretary / Political Affairs -
  • Economic Affairs Officer -
  • Public/Cultural Affairs Officer -
  • Defense Attache -
  • Counsellor / Defense -
  • Consul General - Mrs. Kairi Kunka
  • Consul -

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of State website https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5377.htm.

    • Granquist, Mark A. "Estonian Americans." in Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 2, Gale, 2014), pp. 97-106. Online
  2. U.S. Global Leadership Project Report - 2012 Gallup
  3. A Guide to the United States’ History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Estonia US State Department
  4. Embassy of Estonia in Washington, D.C.
  5. Consulate-General of Estonia in New York
  6. Consulate-General of Estonia in San Francisco
  7. Embassy of the United States in Tallinn

Further reading
  • Granquist, Mark A. "Estonian Americans." in Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 2, Gale, 2014), pp. 97-106. Online
  • Kulu, H. and Tammaru, T. "Ethnic return migration from the East and the West: the case of Estonia in the 1990s", Europe-Asia Studies (2000) 52#2: 349�69.
  • Pennar, Jaan; Parming, Tönu; Rebane, P. Peter (1975). The Estonians in America, 1627-1975: a chronology & fact book. Oceana Publications. ISBN 9780379005196. OCLC 1288426.
  • Tannberg, Kersti, and Tönu Parming. Aspects of Cultural Life: Sources for the Study of Estonians in America (New York: Estonian Learned Society in America, 1979).
  • "Estonians" in Stephan Thernstrom, Ann Orlov and Oscar Handlin, eds. Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups (1980) Online
  • Tammaru, Tiit, Kaja Kumer-Haukanõmm, and Kristi Anniste. "The formation and development of the Estonian diaspora." Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 36.7 (2010): 1157–1174. online

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