Commandant of the Baltic Defence College met with the Chief of Defence of Estonia

Chief of Defence BrigGen Riho Terras and Commandant of the Baltic Defence College Lithuanian MG Vitalijus Vaikšnoras discussed the development and future challenges of the BALTDEFCOL.

According to BrigGen Terras the BALTDEFCOL is the only educational institution in mainland Europe that educates staff officers in English and that is focused on small states' security issues. „The goal of the Baltic Defence College is to become the leading centre for Nordic and Baltic Sea region security issues“ said the Chief of Defence. He also stressed the importance of not making any concessions when it comes to faculty members and students. „We need to keep the college standards equal to those of the staff colleges in the United Kingdom or the United States“.

MG Vaikšnoras asserted that it is important to invite the best officers to the directing staff: „Teaching in a staff college is a recognition to an officer and should become a privilege“. MG Vaikšnoras added that teaching in a staff college is equally as important as participating in field operations.

MG Vitalijus Vaikšnoras visited also the Ministry of Defence of Estonia and had a meeting with the Permanent Secretary Mr Mikk Marran. Mr Marran assured that Baltic Defence College is one of the most important priorities among Estonian international security projects. It was emphasized that Estonia, as a hosting nation to the College, has a special interest and privilege to support and develop such perspective field of cooperation. It was also discussed how to promote the BALTDEFCOL on wider international community and to involve new international partners to the college.