Editing Foreign relations of Estonia (section)

==Trends following re-independence==
Since regaining independence, Estonia has pursued a foreign policy of close cooperation with Western European nations. [[Image:GW Bush, TH Ilves 2006-2.jpg|thumb|270px|left|President [[Toomas Hendrik Ilves]] and President [[George W. Bush]], in Estonia 2006.]] The two most important policy objectives in this regard have been accession into [[NATO]] and the [[European Union]], achieved in March and May 2004 respectively. Estonia's international realignment toward the West has been accompanied by a general deterioration in relations with [[Russia]], most recently demonstrated by the controversy surrounding relocation of the [[Bronze Soldier]] WWII memorial in Tallinn.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6604647.stm | work=BBC News | title=Estonia blames Russia for unrest | date=29 April 2007 | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref> Estonia has become an increasingly strong supporter of deepening European integration. The decision to participate in the preparation of a [[financial transaction tax]] in 2012 reflects this shift in Estonia's EU policy.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.fiia.fi/en/publication/288/estonia_strives_to_be_at_the_core_of_the_eu/ | work=[[The Finnish Institute of International Affairs]] | title=Estonia strives to be at the core of the EU | date=17 October 2012 | access-date=14 January 2013 | archive-date=23 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123051635/https://www.fiia.fi/en/publication/288/estonia_strives_to_be_at_the_core_of_the_eu/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

An important element in Estonia's post-independence reorientation has been closer ties with the [[Nordic countries]], especially [[Finland]] and [[Sweden]]. Indeed, Estonians consider themselves a Nordic people due to being [[Baltic Finns|Finnic]] people like the Finns rather than [[Balts]],<ref>[http://web-static.vm.ee/static/failid/220/eesti_elu.pdf  Estonian foreign ministry publication] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325013626/http://web-static.vm.ee/static/failid/220/eesti_elu.pdf |date=25 March 2009 }}, 2004</ref><ref>[http://web-static.vm.ee/static/failid/273/Eesti%20elu.pdf  Estonian foreign ministry publication] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307050758/http://web-static.vm.ee/static/failid/273/Eesti%20elu.pdf |date=7 March 2008 }}, 2002</ref> based on their historical ties with [[Denmark]] and particularly [[Finland]] and [[Sweden]]. In December 1999 Estonian foreign minister (and since 2006, [[president of Estonia]]) [[Toomas Hendrik Ilves]] delivered a speech entitled "Estonia as a Nordic Country" to the [[Swedish Institute for International Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vm.ee/eng/nato/1210.html|title=NATO :: NATO :: Estonia as a Nordic Country<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=8 March 2008|archive-date=27 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210717/http://www.vm.ee/eng/nato/1210.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2003, the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Estonia)|foreign ministry]] also hosted an exhibit called "Estonia: Nordic with a Twist".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sm.ee/eng/pages/goproweb0689|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208100817/http://www.sm.ee/eng/pages/goproweb0689|url-status=dead|title=Estonia - Nordic with a Twist<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=8 February 2008}}</ref> And in 2005, Estonia joined the [[European Union]]'s [[Nordic Battle Group]]. It has also shown continued interest in becoming a full member in the [[Nordic Council]].

Whereas in 1992 Russia accounted for 92% of Estonia's international trade,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/Research/WorldwideFreedom/bg2060.cfm|title=The Estonian Economic Miracle|work=The Heritage Foundation|access-date=20 February 2015|archive-date=3 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303174230/http://www.heritage.org/Research/WorldwideFreedom/bg2060.cfm|url-status=unfit}}</ref> today there is extensive economic interdependence between Estonia and its Nordic neighbors: three-quarters of [[foreign direct investment|foreign investment]] in Estonia originates in the Nordic countries (principally Finland and Sweden), to which Estonia sends 42% of its exports (as compared to 6.5% going to Russia, 8.8% to Latvia, and 4.7% to Lithuania). On the other hand, the Estonian political system, its [[flat tax|flat rate]] of income tax, and its non-welfare-state model distinguish it from the other Nordic states, and indeed from many other European countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.investinestonia.com/pdf/ForeignTrade2007.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-06-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307050806/http://www.investinestonia.com/pdf/ForeignTrade2007.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2008}} Foreign investment</ref>

Estonia is a party to 181 international organizations, including the [[Bank for International Settlements|BIS]], [[Council of the Baltic Sea States|CBSS]], [[Council of Europe|CE]], [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council|EAPC]], [[European Bank for Reconstruction and Development|EBRD]], [[United Nations Economic Commission for Europe|ECE]], [[European Union|EU]] (member since 1 May 2004), [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]], [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]], [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|IBRD]], [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|ICRM]], [[International Finance Corporation|IFC]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|IFRCS]], [[International Hydrographic Organization|IHO]], [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[International Maritime Organization]], [[Interpol (organization)|Interpol]], [[IOC]], [[International Organization for Migration|IOM]] (observer), [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] (correspondent), [[International Telecommunication Union|ITU]], [[International Trade Union Confederation|ITUC]], [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]], [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons|OPCW]], [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]], [[Partnership for Peace|PFP]], [[United Nations|UN]], [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development|UNCTAD]], [[UNESCO]], [[United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina|UNMIBH]], [[United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo|UNMIK]], [[United Nations Truce Supervision Organization|UNTSO]], [[Universal Postal Union|UPU]], [[World Customs Organization|WCO]], [[Western European Union|WEU]] (associate partner), [[World Health Organization|WHO]], [[World Intellectual Property Organization|WIPO]], [[World Meteorological Organization|WMO]], [[World Trade Organization|WTO]].