According to the Financial Times, Estonia is moving elite military units closer to the Russian border for permanent deployment while reshaping its defense strategy for a possible war.
Citing sources, the newspaper reported that Estonia’s military and intelligence leadership does not expect a large-scale Russia-NATO conflict within the next two years. At the same time, officials believe the current level of protection along the country’s eastern border is insufficient.
Tallinn has therefore shifted to an «active defense» strategy focused on defending territory directly along the Russian border. The Financial Times described the change as a quiet but radical overhaul of Estonia’s defense posture.
Colonel Tarmo Kundla, commander of Estonia’s 1st Brigade, said the military must begin at the border and aim to prevail from the opening battles.
One unit is set to be stationed in Johvi, about 50 kilometers from the Russian border, where infrastructure for a permanent military presence is already under construction.
Another base is being built in Narva. It is designed to permanently host 200 troops and accommodate up to 800 additional personnel in the event of a crisis.
The Financial Times also noted that over the past year Estonia has signed contracts to acquire nine US-made HIMARS systems equipped with M57 missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers, as well as nine South Korean Chunmoo systems with comparable range.
According to the newspaper, Estonia’s defense spending has risen by 42% this year.