Prince William meets Estonia's president amid tensions with Russia
The Prince of Wales is on a two-day trip to Estonia to bolster ties between the UK and the Baltic state.
Thursday 20 March 2025 18:15, UK
The Prince of Wales has held talks with Estonia's president on the role of British troops as the UK seeks to bolster its ties to the Baltic state.聽
Prince William is at the start of a two-day trip to Estonia, and has been at Tapa Army Base to meet UK forces who are providing a deterrent against potential Russian aggression towards the country on NATO's eastern flank.
William spent around 35 minutes with Estonian President Alar Karis at his office in the capital, Tallinn.
Mr Karis thanked the prince for the presence of the UK troops at the military base.
The future king also met a small group of young children nearby waving union flags and bent down to talk to them before heading into the building.
The prince's trip is being made predominately in his role as colonel-in-chief of the Mercian Regiment, and on Friday he will meet soldiers from his regiment taking over NATO defence duties in Estonia from The Royal Dragoon Guard.
Around 900 British service personnel are based in Estonia - the UK's largest permanent overseas deployment.
Britain and Estonia fought together during the Afghanistan conflict and are NATO allies.
Estonians have an affinity with UK music and culture, with many in their 40s and 50s growing up with British TV, and school children are taught about the Royal Navy's support for the country's successful fight for independence after the First World War.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said before the trip that it was important "for the prince to highlight the strong bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Estonia".
"The meeting also allows His Royal Highness the opportunity to applaud Estonia's strong support for Ukraine since the conflict with Russia.
"It is also yet another example of the Prince of Wales representing the United Kingdom at the highest level on the global stage."
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The visit comes as Europe's nations including the UK prepare to increase spending on their armed forces in response to the changing world order ushered in by US President Donald Trump.
Vladimir Putin and his forces are seen as a growing threat in the region following his three-year invasion of Ukraine, and the Baltic states - Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia - which border Russia appear increasingly concerned.
As William was meeting the Estonian president, military chiefs from the UK and its allies were meeting to discuss how a peacekeeping force could operate in Ukraine to deter further Russian attacks if a deal to end the war is reached.