TALLINN, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized here Tuesday the UK's role as Estonia's largest military partner and called for expanding defense industry collaboration.

"Our high-tech defense industry has great potential for cooperation with British companies," Michal said after meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Estonian President Alar Karis also underscored the UK's importance as a key NATO ally in ensuring regional security, according to a statement from the Estonian Presidency.

Starmer was in Tallinn to attend the JEF Security Summit, held Dec. 16-17. The British-led JEF includes Estonia, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland.