U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met with Estonian Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu at the Pentagon Monday. "Secretary Hagel praised Minister Reinsalu for Estonia's steadfast commitment to Afghanistan, to include its contributions to security in Helmand Province and its commitment to supporting stability in Afghanistan post-2014," Pentagon spokesman Carl Woog said in a statement. Hagel and Reinsalu discussed their shared interest in working together with other Baltic states to support regional cooperation, interoperability with allies, cyber defense, and long-term defense modernization, Woog said. "The secretary also commended Estonia for its demonstrated commitment to maintaining significant levels of efficient defense spending," Woog said. Hagel also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the alliance, and pledged to continue to participate in NATO exercises, Woog said, "noting the importance of leveraging the interoperability we've achieved over the last 20 years."
