Kristjan Prikk

Kristjan Prikk is the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Estonia to NATO since August 2026. 
Before assuming his current post, Mr. Prikk served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the United States from May 2021 to July 2026. This was his third diplomatic posting to Washington, D.C. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, he served as the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense from August 2018 to May 2021. In this capacity, he was responsible for the overall management of the Ministry and for coordinating the activities of the agencies under its authority.
Before becoming Permanent Secretary, Mr. Prikk held the position of Undersecretary for Defense Policy at the Estonian Ministry of Defense from July 2017 to August 2018.
From 2013 to 2017, he served at the National Security and Defense Coordination Unit of the Estonian Government Office, first as Deputy Director and later as Director. In the latter role, his responsibilities included coordinating the development and implementation of Estonia's whole-of-government, interagency approach to national defense and advising the Prime Minister on these matters. 
His previous diplomatic and governmental assignments include serving as Defense Counsellor at the Embassy of Estonia in Washington, D.C. from 2010 to 2013, and Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Estonian Ministry of Defense from 2007 to 2010. 
Earlier in his career, Mr. Prikk worked on issues related to NATO enlargement and the Alliance's partnerships with Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia at the Security Policy and Arms Control Bureau of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2007. He also served as a diplomat responsible for trade and economic affairs at the Embassy of Estonia in the United States from 2002 to 2006, and as a foreign trade and World Trade Organization specialist at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2002. 
Mr. Prikk holds a Master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College (2013) and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Tartu (2000). In 2000–2001, he completed his conscript service in the Estonian Defense Forces. He is a reserve officer and a member of Estonia's voluntary defense organization, the Estonian Defense League (Kaitseliit). Mr. Prikk has been awarded the Order of the White Star of the Republic of Estonia, Fourth Class; the National Order of Merit of the French Republic, Knight Class; the Cross of Merit of the Estonian Ministry of Defense, First Class; and additional decorations from the Estonian Defense Forces, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, among others.
Mr. Prikk is married to Liis Prikk, an educator. They have two daughters and one son.