Major General Ireneusz Nowak Operational Commander

.06.2026 nr 3.5-1/26/

Dear General Nowak,

Hereby I am forwarding you the invitation to participate as a speaker at the 20th Annual Baltic

Conference on Defence (ABCD) held on 22-23 September 2026 in Tallinn, Estonia.

The theme of the conference is “Choosing to Win: Building Confidence in Complexity”. ABCD is

a regional defence and security conference. For the second time, ABCD will take place as part of

the Estonian Defence Week linking a series of events showcasing Estonia’s defence sector and

bringing together security experts to discuss regional, European and global foreign and security

policy issues.

I would also like to emphasise the strategic importance of events such as the ABCD in the Baltic

region, situated on NATO’s eastern flank. As the war in Ukraine continues to affect Europe and

Russia actively challenges the unity and determination of the democratic world, maintaining close

cooperation and candid discussions among allies has never been more important.

By coming together, sharing experiences, and addressing common challenges, we send a clear

message to our adversaries, reassure our allies, and strengthen the confidence of our people.

Our collective commitment to protecting freedom, preserving democratic values, and ensuring

lasting security remains unwavering. Your input as representative from Poland, would be most

valuable.

It would be a great honour for us if you could find time in your busy schedule and speak at the

conference and moreover, we would have an opportunity to discuss mutual matters as well.

Yours Sincerely,

Vahur Karus Major General Chief of the Headquarters

Estonian Defence Forces

Attached: ABCD invitation by the Minister of Defence and the Director of ICDS