Estonia |
United States |
Estonian-U.S. relations are bilateral relations between Estonia and the United States. The relationship has been constant and strong since Estonia first became independent. The United States and Estonia are important allies and partners.
The United States recognized the Republic of Estonia de iure on July 28, 1922. The first Estonian diplomatic mission in the United States was opened in the same year. It continued its activities throughout the period of occupation by the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1991. The U.S. government recognized Estonia's diplomatic mission as a legal representative of the Republic of Estonia. The recognition of the legal continuity of the Republic of Estonia has been the cornerstone of Estonian-U.S. relations.
The U.S. reopened its embassy in Tallinn on September 4, 1991. Relations between the two countries have since developed rapidly. In November 2006, President George W. Bush became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Estonia. During the visit, he announced the administration's intention to work with the U.S. Congress to make changes to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, increasing security while facilitating entry for legitimate visitors and businesspeople from countries like Estonia.
President Obama nominated Michael C. Polt as ambassador to Estonia and he was sworn in on November 30, 2009. Ambassador Polt presented his credentials to Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on December 10, 2009. Mrs. Marina Kaljurand in September 2011 replaced Mr. Väino Reinart who had been serving as Estonia's ambassador to the United States since September 2007. Estonia also is represented in the United States by a consulate general in New York, Sten Schwede; and ten honorary consuls: Jaak Treiman in Los Angeles, Eric Harkna in Chicago, Irja Cilluffo in New Hampshire, Paul Aarne Raidna in Seattle, Richard Drake in Houston, Larry Ruth in Lincoln, Harry Huge in Charleston, Michael Corey Chan in Scottsdale, Aadu Allpere in Atlanta, and Gerard McGovern in New Orleans.
The U.S. Embassy in Estonia is located in Tallinn.
Estonia maintains an Embassy in Washington, D.C., a consulate general in New York and has honorary consuls in Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; Houston, TX; Portsmouth, NH; Lincoln, NE; Charleston, SC and Scottsdale, AZ.[1][2][3]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).[2]
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Estonia_%E2%80%93_United_States_relations Estonia – United States relations] at Wikimedia Commons
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