Jeb Bush will visit Estonia to speak about security concerns between Europe and America on Friday, before launching his bid to become President of the United States of America next week, writes ERR News.
The Republican will will fly to Tallinn to tour NATO cyber defense center as part of a week-long European tour. He will also meet with the President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss regional security issues, and visit the e-Estonia showroom.
Bush is being hosted by the International Center for Defense and Security think tank on what is described as a ‘private visit’ and will take part in a roundtable discussion.
Earlier this week the former governor of Florida met with German officials in Berlin and will fly to Warsaw, Poland today.
The purpose of his trip is to see first hand the challenges faced by Europe over its security and economy.
In Berlin on Tuesday Bush said that if he became president, the US would take a more active role in combating Russian aggression, especially in Eastern Europe and Ukraine. According to AP, Bush said that the United States should consider sending thousands more American troops, along with NATO forces, to Eastern Europe to counter the strength that Russian President Vladimir Putin is amassing in the region. Estonia, along with Latvia and Lithuania, repeatedly urged the US to send more forces to the region, and station permanent troops in the Baltic states.
Bush has criticized President Barack Obama in the past for not taking a hard enough line on foreign policy issues. After Obama refused to supply weapons to Ukraine, Bush called him ‘feckless,’ Reuters reported.
Last week Bush also praised Estonia’s tax system and the ability to complete them quickly online in ‘five minutes,’ The New York Times reported.
Jeb – real name John – Bush is the younger brother of former president George W. Bush and he is expected to officially launch his presidential run for the 2016 US election on June 15.
It will be his first visit to Estonia.
