The Hon. Kristjan Prikk, ambassador of Estonia to the United States, visits the Bay Area again on Wednesday, May 29. Members of the Estonian community and friends of Estonia are invited to two special public events at UC Berkeley and Stanford on that day.
At noon on the Stanford campus, please join Ambassador Prikk in an engaging discussion with the director of the Freeman-Spogli Institute, Michael McFaul, on the topic “Russia’s War in Ukraine and its Implications on European Security: Why should America care?”
“More than ten years into Russia’s war against Ukraine and more than two years after Moscow launched a full-scale aggression, there is still no end in sight to the largest military conflict in Europe after WWII. What are the implications of this war on the security of Europe but also on the United States? What would it take to end the war and in what kind of a world will we all live on the day after it’s all over? The event will feature a discussion on the possibility of a viable Western strategy for success that not only saves Ukraine but also strengthens the United States’ role as the leader of the free world.”
The event is free, open to all, and will also be streamed online. It is sponsored by CREES, CISAC, and Stanford University Libraries, and is part of the ongoing series Global Conversations.
At 6 PM at the UC Berkeley Faculty Club, please join Ambassador Prikk for the talk, “Nii see asi on: Estonia in the International Context” to be followed by a reception.
Ambassador Kristjan Prikk will discuss how Estonia has developed from a relatively unknown Soviet-occupied country to a phenomenon often nicknamed E-Estonia that has been in the forefront of digital transformation since restoring its independence in 1991. Digital public services, the world’s most robust cyber defense, an unprecedented number of tech startups – they all have something to do with Estonia. Yet, Estonia is not just about virtual space. The tough neighborhood on Estonia’s eastern border is very real and so is its determination to invest in defense. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has further raised the relevance of Estonian strong-on-defense mindset and its membership in NATO. Ambassador Prikk will therefore elaborate on how freedom, innovation, economic progress and security in Europe are all tied together, as well as why this is relevant for America.
The event, sponsored by the Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies, is free and open to the public.
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