Photo Summary: Clinton attends NATO foreign ministers meeting

Yesterday and today, Secretary Clinton attended the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Tallinn, Estonia (the volanic ash cloud from Eyjafjallajokull doesn’t seem to have stopped her). Among the topics of discussion:  nuclear weapons, Afghanistan, Iran, the Eastern bloc countries, and relations with Russia. Remarks Clinton made today about the meeting are here.

The meeting comes at a time when NATO’s very purpose is being debated. The alliance was established to protect against the Soviet threat, but with the fall of communism, what’s its purpose now? In fact, the United States should just withdraw from NATO, argues Andrew Bacevich in his recent FP article, “Let Europe Be Europe.”

Above, it’s woman power with Britain’s permanent representative to NATO, Mariot Leslie, at left, Clinton, and an unidentified woman (who I should probably know, but don’t) at right on April 22.

The NATO foreign ministers meeting is under way on April 22. Clinton is on the left, in purple.

What’s up? Clinton chats with Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet on April 22. (Oops, her second button has come undone, but no big deal — Clinton has more important things to worry about.) Clinton made these remarks with Paet. After her meeting with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on April 23, she made these remarks.

The meeting participants prepare for a “family photo” on April 22.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, center, speaks with Clinton and Paet after the “family photo.”

Clinton listens intently to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis at the beginning of the meeting with non-NATO ISAF contributors on April 23. NATO foreign ministers worked on a plan for international troops and civilian staff in Afghanistan to hand over responsibility to the Afghan military and government.

Clinton speaks to Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb (who comes across as very sporty and intelligent on his personal website) at the meeting with non-NATO ISAF contributors on April 23.

Clinton is probably glad to be back home in the United States now, as she told Esquire magazine that traveling internationally “wears you out.” Still, we know that Clinton has far more stamina and resilience than the typical person — she bounced back so fast from her broken elbow last year.