Rome, 5 Oct. (LaPresse) – Estonia is permanently moving troops closer to the Russian border and is acquiring weaponry capable of striking deep into the neighbouring country’s territory. This is reported by the Financial Times, citing officials from the Baltic state. Estonian military and intelligence leaders – it is explained – do not believe that Moscow wants a large-scale war with NATO, at least not in the next two years, but they believe Moscow is preparing for a potential future conflict with the small Baltic nation. In particular, the authorities fear a potential small-scale incursion aimed at testing NATO’s mutual defence clause. This concern has prompted Estonia to adopt a strategy of ‘active defence’. As part of this strategy, military units will be permanently relocated from Tapa to Jõhvi, just 50 km from the Russian border, where new, large-scale facilities are being built to house the troops. “A credible deterrent requires that an attack against us be unthinkable. Our objective is clear: to keep the enemy and the devastation of war away from Estonian territory,” stated the Estonian Ministry of Defence.
Estonia: media reports suggest Tallinn is moving troops closer to the Russian border
Rome, 5 Oct. (LaPresse) – Estonia is permanently moving troops closer to the Russian border and is acquiring weaponry capable of striking deep into the neighbouring country’s territory. This is reported by the Financial Times, citing officials from the Baltic state. Estonian military and intelligence leaders – it is explained – do not believe that Moscow wants a large-scale war with NATO, at least not in the next two years, but they believe Moscow is preparing for a potential future conflict with the small Baltic nation. In particular, the authorities fear a potential small-scale incursion aimed at testing NATO’s mutual defence clause. This concern has prompted Estonia to adopt a strategy of ‘active defence’. As part of this strategy, military units will be permanently relocated from Tapa to Jõhvi, just 50 km from the Russian border, where new, large-scale facilities are being built to house the troops. “A credible deterrent requires that an attack against us be unthinkable. Our objective is clear: to keep the enemy and the devastation of war away from Estonian territory,” stated the Estonian Ministry of Defence.