Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur presented mission medals to the soldiers of the American 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment at a ceremony held at the Taara military base in Võru. Pevkur stated that the presence of American units in Estonia, alongside other NATO Allies, is a clear sign of our strong strategic cooperation and the determination of our collective defence, demonstrating the readiness to defend every inch of Allied territory.

"Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is still ongoing, and recently we witnessed horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas against the state of Israel. In these times of upheaval and strategic confrontation, we cannot waver. On the contrary, we must step up and do more to defend our country and Allies. We must support Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to win the war. We all know this is a collective effort for the sake of peace, freedom, and our shared values. I am pleased to know that we can always rely on the support of our American friends and Allies in achieving these goals," added Defense Minister Pevkur.

U.S. forces are present in Estonia as part of an ongoing rotation series that ensures a consistent U.S. military presence in the Baltic States. This is part of NATO's efforts to strengthen the Eastern flank, as announced by U.S. President Joe Biden at the NATO Summit in Madrid last year.

Photos of the medal ceremony.

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