Visit by H.E. Mrs. Kersti Kaljulaid, President of the Republic of Estonia

On 4th April the Baltic Defence College was honoured by the visit of H.E. Mrs. Kersti Kaljulaid, President of the Republic of Estonia. The President was accompanied by Mr. Erki Holmberg, Head of Domestic Policy Department, Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia, Mr Taavi Linnamäe, Public Relations Adviser to the President, LTC Rein Vaabel, ADC and Ms Pilleriin Lillemets, Desk Officer of International Co-operation Department, Ministry of Defence.

During the visit Major General Andis Dilāns, Commandant of the college along with the members of the College Management Group provided a briefing introducing the College as regional Professional Military Education organisation. The specific focus was on the courses and cooperation with other educational institutions in the Baltic states and abroad. The main notions of the BALTDEFCOL Development Plan 2017-2025 were also presented to the President.

The President expressed an interest in the college education of military and civilian students and conveyed her understanding of the role of BALTDEFCOL within defence and security setting of the Baltic states.

H.E. Mrs Kaljulaid provided a lecture to the BALTDEFCOL students of the Higher Command Studies Course, the Joint Command and General Staff Course and faculty members. The lecture covered major attributes of European policy and selected aspects of regional defence and security. The lecture apprehended strong interest of students and it was reflected within a session of questions related to clarification or extension of some major ideas presented within that comprehensive speech.