News

National events

CIOR´s incoming presidential team visits NATO HQ

Lieutenant Commander Ingrid Mühling, Estonian Defence Forces/CIOR Public Affairs 06.06.2022

The Estonian Reserve Officers Association´s team is preparing to take over the CIOR presidency in early August, at the Athens Summer Congress. A part of that is to get familiarised with NATO headquarters.

By: Lieutenant Commander Ingrid Mühling, Estonian Defence Forces/CIOR Public Affairs

The Estonian presidential team is preparing to commence with presidential duties immediately after the congress. Last week, the delegation visited NATO headquarters in Brussels. Together with the CIOR permanent representative to NATO, lieutenant colonel (r) Ben Jonckers (Belgian Army), they met with major general Karl Ford (UK Army), who is the Deputy Director of the International Military Staff (IMS), and major general Indrek Sirel – the Estonian Military Representative to NATO and the EU.

The Estonian presidential team, led by lieutenant colonel Toomas Luman, presented the first ever CIOR presidential coin to major general Karl Ford.

The team introduced CIOR´s strategic programme and the Estonian goals for the forthcoming presidency to the generals, as well as discussed with them about possible co-operation and mutual assistance opportunities.

Sharing of experience

– Estonia is willing to share its experience with regard to reserves, as we are one of few countries in CIOR whose defence relies mostly on the reserve forces. We are especially focusing on cyber- and information warfare units, and consider protection of civil society from malign influence one of our main goals, said major (r) Andre Lilleleht – a member of both the current and the incoming presidential team.

CIOR has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NATO via the National Reserve Forces Council (NRFC). CIOR counsels NATO on matters related to reserve forces.

First meeting since pandemic

It is customary for the CIOR president to meet with the Deputy Director General of the International Military Staff regularly. Due to COVID restrictions, the regular meetings have not taken place over the recent years.

Will foster relations

– Last week´s meeting was a good opportunity to refresh friendly relations in this current, challenging security environment. CIOR has worked in close co-operation with NATO since the very first days, and we are set to keep up the good working relationship, major Lilleleht said.

Similar news

All news

Estonian Reserve Officers dedicated monument to Lt.Gen. Johannes Kert

Estonian reserve officers dedicated monument to Lt.Gen. Kert - supporter of reserves and CIOR.

One year of war in Ukraine, 105 years of Independent Estonian Republic

  February 24th was the 105th anniversary of Estonian Republic. The same day marks one year of Russia´s illegal aggression against Ukraine. President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen  and Secretary General of NATO and Jens Stoltenberg  visited Tallinn...

Estonian Defense Forces commander warns about the next phase of Russian aggression

MARTIN HEREM: Russia’s defeat in Ukraine would not put an end to the danger that lurks us. “We have no right to underestimate Russia’s aggressiveness in the future, and there is also no reason to think that the defeat of the Russians in Ukraine would...

Estonian Reserve Officers prepare for Presidency from 2022

The Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF), Major General Martin Herem and the Chairman of the Reserve Officers´ Association, Major (R) Andre Lilleleht, have signed the cooperation agreement that will set down main support lines provided by EDF to the Estonian...

CIOR President and Secretary General attend Estonia Defence Forces 101st anniversary

(Updated.) The CIOR President Colonel Chris Argent (UK Army Retd) and CIOR Secretary General Colonel Adrian Walton (UK Army) visited Estonia in November to attend the 101st Anniversary of the formation of the Estonian Defense Forces, and to review the 2019 CIOR Summer...

Estonian ‘snap exercise’ for over 800 Reservists

The Estonian government last week decided to invite on short notice 823 armed forces Reservists to an additional training exercise, ‘Okas 2019’. Members of the 61st Combat Service Support Battalion were required to rush to rally points specified in their invites....