Sources: Estonia set to nominate Hannes Hanso as ambassador to the US
Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to nominate Hannes Hanso as the country's next ambassador to the United States, according to multiple sources. Neither the ministry nor Hanso has formally confirmed the appointment.
Hanso told ERR that he could neither confirm nor deny the information until the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues an official announcement. The ministry has so far declined to comment.
Ministry spokesperson Susan Lilleväli said the nomination process is subject to legal requirements and cannot be discussed publicly at this stage. She noted that the candidate must still be approved by the Estonian government and President Alar Karis, and must receive accreditation from the host country.
Lilleväli added that the ambassador's identity is expected to be made public in approximately one month.
Hanso has served as Estonia's ambassador to China since 2022 and is also accredited to Vietnam, Mongolia, and Thailand. He is currently based in Beijing.
From 2009 to 2019, Hanso was a member of Estonia's Social Democratic Party. During that period, he served as Minister of Defence from 2015 to 2016 and as a Member of Parliament from 2016 to 2019. In 2019, he briefly served as a Member of the European Parliament.
Estonia's current ambassador to the United States, Kristjan Prikk, has held the post since 2021 and is set to become Estonia's ambassador to NATO later this year. Diplomatic postings are typically rotated in August.
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Editor: Märten Hallismaa, Argo Ideon
