Washington

Biography of Ambassador Kristjan Prikk

Kristjan Prikk serves as Estonia´s appointed Ambassador to the United States since May 2021. This is his third diplomatic posting to Washington, DC.

Before assuming his current duties, Prikk served as the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense from August 2018. In this role he was responsible for the management of the ministry and for coordinating the activities of the agencies under the ministry, including the Estonian Defense Forces, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service and the Centre for Defense Investments.

Prior to becoming the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense, Mr. Kristjan Prikk worked as the Undersecretary for Defense Policy in Ministry of Defense since July 2017.

From 2015 to 2017 Mr. Prikk was the Director of National Security and Defense Co-ordination Unit of Estonian Government Office. Mr. Prikk’s role was to co-ordinate the development and implementation of the whole of government interagency approach to national defense in Estonia and advise the Prime Minister on these issues. Prior to becoming the Director in 2015, Mr. Prikk was the Deputy Director in the same office for two years.

His previous assignments include the Defense Counsellor at the Estonian Embassy in Washington, D.C (2010-2013) and the Director of International Co-operation Department of the Estonian Ministry of Defense (2007-2010).

Prior to joining the Estonian Ministry of Defense, Mr. Prikk worked with issues mainly pertaining to the NATO enlargement and NATO partnership with Russia, Ukraine and Georgia at the Security Policy and Arms Control Bureau of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006-2007).

Additionally, Mr. Prikk has held assignments as a diplomat covering trade and economic issues at the Embassy of Estonia to the United States (2002-2006) and as a foreign trade and World Trade Organization specialist at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1999-2002).

Mr. Prikk holds a Master’s degree from the Strategic Studies Program of the United States Army War College (2013) and a Bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from the University of Tartu, Estonia (2000).

In 2000-2001 Mr. Prikk performed a conscript service in Estonian Defense Forces. He is a reserve officer and a member of Estonia’s voluntary defense organization Kaitseliit (Estonian Defense League). He has been decorated with the fourth class of the Order of the White Star by the President of the Republic of Estonia, first class of the Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia and other decorations by Estonian Defense Forces, Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service and Estonian Police and Border Guard Board among others.

Mr. Prikk is married to Mrs. Liis Prikk, they have two daughters and a son.