Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus met with Commander of the Estonian Navy Capt. Sten Sepper aboard the Estonian Navy's flagship minesweeper, the ENS Admiral Cowan, June 19.

While aboard, Mabus was briefed on regional security issues and the Estonian Navy's minesweeping capabilities.

Estonian participation in multinational exercises such as BALTOPS, OPEN SPIRIT and SABER STRIKE was another topic of discussion during Mabus' meeting with Sepper and other Estonian officials.

Mabus also met with Estonia's Minister of Defense Sven Mikser and Commander of Estonian Defense Forces Lt. Gen. Riho Terras.

"The cooperation between the Estonian Defense Forces and our Navy and Marine Corps is critical to the continuing development of our partnership with Estonia," Mabus told those he met with, "and we look forward to continuing to strengthen this relationship in the future."

Mabus' stop in Estonia was part of a multi-nation visit to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility to meet with Sailors and Marines and civilian and military officials.

For more news from the Secretary of the Navy, visit www.navy.mil/SECNAV , www.facebook.com/SecretaryoftheNavy or www.navy.mil/local/secnav/.