Watch again: December 2025 Global Estonian virtual forum
This Friday (December 5), a virtual forum organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took place, connecting the Estonian diaspora and highlighting 2025's key events. The forum can be viewed via the links in this article.
"It is in a way symbolic that today's anniversary forum brought together serious foreign and security policy topics with the participation of experts and policymakers, alongside writer Kristiina Ehin's heartfelt reflection on Estonians, language, and the possibility or impossibility of living far from Estonia. Speaking with one another and working together is the only way will we endure as Estonians and as a free nation," said Marin Mõttus, ambassador at large for the Estonian diaspora.
The program opened with the discussion entitled "Estonian Diplomacy and Estonians Worldwide: How to Cooperate in a Rapidly Changing Security Environment?" moderated by journalist Neeme Raud. Participants included Marko Mihkelson, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, Karl Altau, executive director of the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC), and political scientist and disinformation expert Marcus Kolga.
They discussed the global reach of Estonian diplomacy and how Estonian communities around the world can support one another in times of geopolitical tension.
One of the forum's themes was the participation of Estonians abroad or global Estonians in Estonian society through elections. This was explored by Tõnis Saarts, associate professor of comparative politics at Tallinn University's Institute of Social Sciences; Halliki Kreinin, an Estonian‑German scholar who recently stood in local elections, and Renee Meriste, president of the Los Angeles Estonian Society, who now lives in Estonia.
Almost every virtual forum has highlighted active young Estonians and their initiatives abroad that are connected to Estonia.
This time, the discussion "Creativity and Entrepreneurship of Estonian Youth Abroad" featured Kaisa Kasekamp, President of the Global Estonian Youth Network (ÜENV), Lasse Leminsky, participant in the Global Estonian Internship Program and finalist in the "Best Practice 2025" competition, and Liina Viies, Adviser on Global Estonian Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They discussed young people's plans for the future and the importance of ties with Estonia. The session also showcased the documentary Class 2010, a creative collaboration between young people from the United States and Estonia, introduced via video link by Merike Barborak, coordinator of the network of Estonian schools abroad.
Joining via video link, Siim Säinas, an Estonian working at Google in Singapore, shared his story, as did the creators of HEIA (Hello Estonians in Australia), an information portal for Estonians in Australia.
The evening concluded with a panel discussion "Newspaper, social media or podcast? Communication among Estonian communities", featuring Kristelle Michelson, journalist and web editor at Vaba Eesti Sõna, Silver Tambur, founder of the online magazine Estonian World and Editor‑in‑Chief of the portal Trialoog, and Kadri Linnas, Adviser on Global Estonian Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy at the MFA. They discussed the channels through which Estonians abroad connect and maintain ties.
The forum was complemented by music from Maria Peterson and Eva Eensaar‑Tootsen. Poet, singer and songwriter Kristiina Ehin offered reflections on the Estonian language and spirit.
The global Estonian virtual forum takes place twice a year and is aimed at audiences both in Estonia and abroad.
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Editor: Michael Cole
