Jüri Luik

Jüri Luik (2017)

Jüri Luik (born August 17, 1966 in Tallinn , Estonian SSR ) is an Estonian politician and diplomat . He has been Minister of Defense of the Republic of Estonia since 2017.

Life

Jüri Luik was born as the son of the oncologist Aleksander Gavrilov (1912–1999) and the radiologist Lilian Luik (* 1926). After graduating from high school in Tallinn, Jüri Luik studied journalism at the University of Tartu until 1989 . In 1988 he became editor of the cultural magazine Vikerkaar ("Rainbow").

Diplomacy and politics

In 1991, the year Estonian regained independence, he joined the newly established diplomatic service of the Republic of Estonia under Foreign Minister Lennart Meri . He initially worked at the Estonian Embassy in London . In 1992 he became political director of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the same year the Estonian Parliament was elected deputies ( Riigikogu ) elected .

From 1992 to 1994, Jüri Luik was a Minister in the Estonian Government under Prime Minister Mart Laar , initially as Minister without Portfolio and later as Minister of Defense . He belonged to the conservative party "Fatherland Union" ( Isamaaliit ) . From January 7, 1994 to April 17, 1995 he was Estonian Foreign Minister in the coalition government under Prime Minister Andres Tarand .

In 1995/96 Luik was a Senior Research Fellow of the Carnegie Foundation . From 1996 to 1999 he was Estonian ambassador to NATO and the Benelux countries before he was again Minister of Defense of the Republic of Estonia in the cabinet of Prime Minister Mart Laar from 1999 to 2002 .

Luik during the 54th MSC 2018

In 2002/2003 Luik headed the Estonian delegation to negotiate NATO accession . In September 2003 he became Estonian Ambassador to the United States and was also accredited to Canada and Mexico . In 2007 he was replaced as ambassador by Väino Reinart . Luik was then Estonian ambassador to NATO until 2012. From 2013 to 2015 Luik was Estonian Ambassador to Russia .

From August 2015 he was director of the International Center for Defense and Security in Tallinn. On June 12, 2017, he was appointed Minister of Defense in the Ratas I cabinet to succeed Margus Tsahkna . From April 2019 he also took over this post in the Ratas II cabinet .

Private

Jüri Luik is married and has one son.

Web links

Commons : Jüri Luik  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Official CV (Estonian State Chancellery)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Suursaadik Jüri Luik lahkub Moskvast