Ministry Official: Defense Establishment Keeps Close Eye on Russian Military Buildup
Russia's continued military buildup in the Baltic Sea region underlines a need for stronger Estonian intelligence and early warning systems, said Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, Mikk Maran.
Speaking at the higher national defense courses, he surveyed the state of the national security, challenges and broad-based national defense.
Marran said Estonian security has never been as well-protected as it is today. "But our intelligence community has a good overview of Russia's recent moves to increase its military presence in the Baltic, forming new units and strengthening old ones, carry out several major exercises and reinforce its weaponry."
Such developments raise questions, Marran said. "We and our allies are aware of this and take it into consideration in our defense planning. We will also keep a close eye in what is going on in the neighborhood, remaining active on the international arena, consulting our allies and continuing developing our intelligence and early warning capability."
Held twice a year since 1999, the national defense courses run from Sunday to Friday in Roosta, Lääne County, and give participants a theoretical grounding in Estonian security and defense policy, foreign policy and national defense, including legislative aspects. The courses also cover international defense cooperation, investments into defense, internal security and how defense is linked with various other fields.
Kristopher Rikken