{ "id": "eph973rdgr", "slug": "margus-tsahkna", "title": "Margus Tsahkna", "updated": "2026-10-12", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.central-and-eastern-european-politicians", "label": "Central and Eastern European politicians", "api_url": 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"Margus Tsahkna, born 1977 in Tartu, is an Estonian politician of the Eesti 200 party who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2023, after serving as Minister of Defense from 2016 to 2017.", "snippet": "Margus Tsahkna, born 1977 in Tartu, is an Estonian politician of the Eesti 200 party who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2023, after serving as Minister of Defense from 2016 to 2017.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.central-and-eastern-european-politicians.ministers.alpha-t-to-z", "markdown": "# Margus Tsahkna\n\nMargus Tsahkna (born 1977) is an Estonian politician of the Eesti 200 party who has been the [Minister](https://www.edgepedia.org/minister-government) of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia since 2023.[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister) He previously served as Minister of Defense from 2016 to 2017 and held the social protection portfolio before that.[2](https://news.err.ee/1609640993/estonia-s-new-government-who-s-who) He was a member of the 13th [Riigikogu](https://www.edgepedia.org/riigikogu) from 2017 to 2019.[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Eesti 200[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister) |\n| Current office | Minister of Foreign Affairs (from 2023)[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister) |\n| Previous offices | Minister of Defense (2016–2017); Minister of Social Protection; Member of the Riigikogu (2017–2019)[2](https://news.err.ee/1609640993/estonia-s-new-government-who-s-who) • [1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister) |\n| Born | Tartu, 1977[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nTsahkna joined the Eesti 200 party in 2018 and is a member of the party's board.[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister) Before that, he was a member of the Pro Patria Union and then the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union.[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nTsahkna was born in Tartu in 1977.[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister) He is married and the father of a daughter and three sons.[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister)\n\n## Career\n\nTsahkna served as Minister of Defense from 2016 to 2017 and held the social protection minister portfolio prior to that.[2](https://news.err.ee/1609640993/estonia-s-new-government-who-s-who) From 2017 to 2019, he was a member of the 13th Riigikogu.[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister)\n\nHe became Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia on April 17, 2023.[1](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister) After a change of government, he continued in the role, taking office again as Minister of Foreign Affairs on July 23, 2024.[3](https://valitsus.ee/en/prime-minister-ministers/minister-foreign-affairs-margus-tsahkna) ERR News reported that Tsahkna continues as foreign minister, a role he held in the previous government.[2](https://news.err.ee/1609640993/estonia-s-new-government-who-s-who)\n\n## Issues specific to Tsahkna\n\nDuring a visit to Israel, Tsahkna met Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and President Isaac Herzog. He rejected the claim that Estonia only praises Israel one-sidedly, saying, „Mitte kellegi huvides ei ole pikaajaline konflikt“ (Edgepedia translation: \"A prolonged conflict is in no one's interest\").[4](https://www.delfi.ee/artikkel/120442877/intervjuu-margus-tsahkna-parast-iisraeli-visiiti-kellelgi-ei-ole-praegu-plaanis-hakata-iraanis-maavagedega-sodima)\n\nSpeaking to the [Financial Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/financial-times), Tsahkna said that Ukrainian drones that have fallen on NATO territory are a price worth paying for hitting Russian oil refineries and military bases, and that Europe must keep up pressure on Russia and not change course in the hope of negotiations; he called European Union talks with Moscow premature.[5](https://www.postimees.ee/8499538/margus-tsahkna-financial-timesile-eksinud-ukraina-droonid-on-hind-mida-tasub-venemaa-tabamise-nimel-maksta)\n\nIn an interview with Õhtuleht, Tsahkna said Estonia and Denmark currently agree on the [Greenland](https://www.edgepedia.org/greenland) question, discussed why a plan for frozen Russian assets in Europe did not find support, and described the Venezuela precedent as dangerous both for Estonia and for Putin.[6](https://www.ohtuleht.ee/1148206/intervjuu-tsahkna-euroopa-ei-saa-enam-olla-laisk-paks-kass-kes-ainult-ootab-usa-kaitset-vaid-peab-oma-osa-ka-ara-tegema)\n\n## Positions and voting record\n\n### Russia and Ukraine\n\nIn an interview with Õhtuleht at a Europe Day event on Freedom Square, Tsahkna said the world around Estonia has become nervous and insecure, that the war in Ukraine continues and Russian provocations do not end, and that people increasingly ask whether NATO will come to their aid. He said, „Putin tahab, et me kardaksime – aga Eesti pole kunagi olnud nii tugev kui praegu“ (Edgepedia translation: \"Putin wants us to be afraid, but Estonia has never been as strong as it is now\").[7](https://www.ohtuleht.ee/melu/1157421/video-margus-tsahkna-otse-ja-ausalt-putin-tahab-et-me-kardaksime-aga-eesti-pole-kunagi-olnud-nii-tugev-kui-praegu-) In a Tartu interview, he said the most important thing is that [Estonians](https://www.edgepedia.org/estonians) do not fall out with one another and believe in themselves.[8](https://tartu.postimees.ee/8485365/intervjuu-valisminister-margus-tsahkna-putin-narvitseb-ja-seetottu-on-ta-ohtlik)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Foreign Minister](https://vm.ee/en/ministry-news-and-contacts/about-ministry-foreign-affairs/foreign-minister)\n2. [Estonia's new government: who's who](https://news.err.ee/1609640993/estonia-s-new-government-who-s-who)\n3. [Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna](https://valitsus.ee/en/prime-minister-ministers/minister-foreign-affairs-margus-tsahkna)\n4. [INTERVJUU | Margus Tsahkna pärast Iisraeli-visiiti: kellelgi ei ole praegu plaanis hakata Iraanis maavägedega sõdima](https://www.delfi.ee/artikkel/120442877/intervjuu-margus-tsahkna-parast-iisraeli-visiiti-kellelgi-ei-ole-praegu-plaanis-hakata-iraanis-maavagedega-sodima)\n5. [Margus Tsahkna Financial Timesile: eksinud Ukraina droonid on hind, mida tasub Venemaa tabamise nimel maksta](https://www.postimees.ee/8499538/margus-tsahkna-financial-timesile-eksinud-ukraina-droonid-on-hind-mida-tasub-venemaa-tabamise-nimel-maksta)\n6. [INTERVJUU | Tsahkna: Euroopa ei saa enam olla „laisk paks kass“, kes ainult ootab USA kaitset, vaid peab oma osa ka ära tegema](https://www.ohtuleht.ee/1148206/intervjuu-tsahkna-euroopa-ei-saa-enam-olla-laisk-paks-kass-kes-ainult-ootab-usa-kaitset-vaid-peab-oma-osa-ka-ara-tegema)\n7. [VIDEO | Margus Tsahkna otse ja ausalt: „Putin tahab, et me kardaksime – aga Eesti pole kunagi olnud nii tugev kui praegu.“](https://www.ohtuleht.ee/melu/1157421/video-margus-tsahkna-otse-ja-ausalt-putin-tahab-et-me-kardaksime-aga-eesti-pole-kunagi-olnud-nii-tugev-kui-praegu-)\n8. [INTERVJUU ⟩ Välisminister Margus Tsahkna: Putin närvitseb ja seetõttu on ta ohtlik](https://tartu.postimees.ee/8485365/intervjuu-valisminister-margus-tsahkna-putin-narvitseb-ja-seetottu-on-ta-ohtlik)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › Central and Eastern European politicians › Ministers and government officials › Surnames T to Z*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/margus-tsahkna", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/margus-tsahkna.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Margus Tsahkna\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/margus-tsahkna. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Margus Tsahkna](https://www.edgepedia.org/margus-tsahkna)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/margus-tsahkna](https://www.edgepedia.org/margus-tsahkna). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Margus Tsahkna\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/margus-tsahkna. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Margus Tsahkna, born 1977 in Tartu, is an Estonian politician of the Eesti 200 party who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2023, after serving as Minister of Defense from 2016 to 2017." }