Yesterday 3 October, Estonia’s new Ambassador to Belgium Helen Kaljuläte presented her credentials to Philippe, King of the Belgians in Brussels.
Following the presentation ceremony, Ambassador Helen Kaljuläte and King Philippe reaffirmed the good and close relations between Estonia and Belgium in many areas. “We are close partners with Belgium in both the European Union and NATO, and we highly value Belgium’s vital contribution to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing,” Ambassador Kaljuläte said. Belgium was the first country to contribute to the mission in 2004. In addition to defence cooperation, they also spoke about common international interests. “We value a world order based on international law, where any aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country, violating the principles of the UN Charter, is unacceptable,” Ambassador Kaljuläte noted.
At the meeting, they also spoke about digital development, cybersecurity, Estonia’s experience in education and close cooperation in development cooperation so far. “It is important in light of Estonia’s active contribution to reconstruction in Ukraine, where Belgium is also involved and where we share many priorities,” Ambassador Kaljuläte said.
Helen Kaljuläte joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2002. From 2002 to 2006 and from 2009 to 2011, she worked at the Press and Information Department and Political Department of the ministry, focusing mainly on international organisations and human rights. Between 2006 and 2009, she worked at Estonia’s permanent mission to the UN in New York, and in a short-term posting, at Finland’s mission to the UN in New York. From 2011 to 2019, she worked at the newly established European External Action Service, both at the EU’s Delegation to the UN in New York, as well as the EU’s Delegation to UNESCO and the OECD in Paris. Between 2019 and 2022, she was part of Estonia’s team during Estonia’s membership in the UN Security Council and from 2022, she was the Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Humanitarian Aid Division until her appointment as Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg in 2024. The ambassador resides in Brussels.
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