Estonia–Poland relations

Estonia–Poland relations is the official relationship between Estonia and Poland. Both nations are members of the European Union, NATO and the United Nations.

Estonian – Polish relations

Estonia
Poland

History

Estonia, then known as Livonia, was incorporated into the territory of Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, which become Duchy of Livonia under Polish rule. The Livonian War further secured Polish authority, having halted Russian attempt to conquer the region.[1] Livonia didn't hold any significant position in the Commonwealth's history since it was divided between the Poles, Swedes and Danes;[2] as for its remoteness outside tax incomes,[3] and this would remain until both fell into the hand of the Russian Empire.

Under the Russian rule however, Livonia, and later Estonia, was seen to be the least oppressed under the rule of tsarist Russia and received a nominal level of autonomy, notably the rise of Orthodox Christianity;[4] however, Congress Poland and later Russian Poland did not receive similar sympathy, and was under complete oppression led by the Russian Imperial government.[5] Nonetheless, in 1905, unrests in Russia became widespread and it hit to Estonia and Poland. For the Estonians, their major opponent was not the Russians but the Germans at the time, but since the Germans were given privileges in Russia, anti-German unrest in Estonia aimed directly against tsarist authoritarian rule.[6] For the Poles, the Russians and Germans were both common oppressors, also rose up against both.[7]

After the end of World War I, both Estonia and Poland regained independence. However, increasing invasions from the Bolsheviks put two nations into one common front against the Soviet Russians. Estonia was not able to repel the Soviets, but Polish success in the Polish–Soviet War helped both to keep their independence.[8] From 1920s, Poland and Estonia were allies, though little contact between.

Poland and Estonia were later fallen victims by Nazi Germany and Soviet Union at 1939.[9] Both were under common oppression, the worst coming from the Russians who would later annex Estonia for the second time as many Estonians were forcefully deported by the Russians;[10] while Poland was more active in their anti-Soviet and anti-Nazi war.

In 1945, both were together again fallen into the hand of Russia, as USSR. The Government of USSR attempted to minimize the tie between Estonia and Poland, and both had no relationship until the collapse of USSR.

Today

With both Estonia and Poland freed from Soviet oppression, two countries established tie in 1991.

Since 1991, trades and cooperation between Estonia and Poland had increased dramatically, turning them into economic and political partnership. Estonia considers Poland as its priority on their relations.[11]

Both Estonia and Poland are member of NATO[12] and the European Union.[13] Their relations have enjoyed a significant boost since 2000s. The threat from Russia, which increased under Vladimir Putin, has also prompted two countries to set closer tie together against a common foe.[14]

There is a small dispute between Estonia and Poland over desynchronisation, which Poland was reluctant to establish the AC link to Estonia.[15]

Resident diplomatic missions
  • Estonia has an embassy in Warsaw.
  • Poland has an embassy in Tallinn.
  • Embassy of Estonia in Warsaw
  • Embassy of Poland in Tallinn

See also

References
  1. http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_livonian_1558-83.html
  2. http://www.estonica.org/en/History/1558-1710_Estonia_under_Swedish_rule/Estonia_divided_between_Sweden,_Poland_and_Denmark/
  3. Stone, Daniel Z. (July 2014). The Polish-Lithuanian State, 1386-1795. ISBN 9780295803623.
  4. http://www.orthodox.ee/estonian-orthodox_eng.html
  5. https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/Partitioned-Poland
  6. http://www.communistcrimes.org/en/Database/Estonia/Estonia-Communist-Era
  7. https://www.britannica.com/event/Russian-Revolution-of-1905
  8. http://www.outono.net/elentir/2019/02/14/bolshevik-war-this-is-how-poland-stopped-the-advance-of-communism-in-europe/
  9. http://estonianworld.com/life/life-in-estonia-at-the-outset-of-the-second-world-war-and-the-occupation/
  10. http://estonianworld.com/life/estonia-remembers-the-soviet-deportations/
  11. https://news.postimees.ee/1310482/relations-with-poland-are-estonia-s-priority-ilves
  12. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/400/
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2019-04-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/03/world/nato-exercise-poland-baltics-russia/index.html
  15. https://news.err.ee/842140/estonia-likely-to-give-in-to-poland-s-demands-on-desynchronisation
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