Estonia's former President on lessons learnt in dealing with Putin

Article excerpt

Estonia's former president reflects on decades of managing relations with Russia during a NATO military exercise unfolding across the Baltic Sea, from the Gulf of Riga to Denmark's coast. The exercise, currently underway, underscores the strategic importance of the region as tensions with Moscow persist. The interview captures insights from a leader who navigated Cold War aftermath and post-Soviet independence, offering perspective on how smaller NATO allies have learned to handle geopolitical pressure from a larger adversary. The timing of the discussion, coinciding with active military drills, highlights the ongoing security concerns that shape Baltic diplomacy and defense strategy.