Estonia’s security policy became orientated towards integration into various

international organizations fairly soon after Estonia regained independence in 1991.

The first Estonian government after the September 1992 elections set

integration into the European Communities/European Union as Estonia’s

long-term goal. The joint statement of the presidents of the Baltic states,

declaring membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

as a main guarantee of their security, followed a year later in December 1993.