TORONTO

Canada appointed its first ambassador to Estonia, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced on Tuesday.

Laird Hindle will serve as Canada's ambassador.

"This is Canada’s first ambassadorial appointment to Estonia and is part of the expansion of Canada’s diplomatic presence in Central and Eastern Europe," said Global Affairs Canada in a release.

The conversion of Canada’s office in Estonia, a key NATO ally, into a full embassy with a resident ambassador will help build stronger bilateral ties, it added.

"With this first appointment, we continue to advance Canada’s strategic diplomatic presence in the Baltic states," said Joly in the statement.

"Since Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, the world has experienced a profound geopolitical shift with political, economic, security and environmental impacts. To counteract Russia’s sustained aggression and influence, it is imperative that we reinforce Canada’s standing through diplomatic engagement on the ground working side by side with our friends and allies," she added.

In 2022, Canada announced that it would establish an embassy in Estonia with a resident ambassador.