Estonian government adopts official positions for NATO summit

The government today approved its positions for the NATO summit in Wales on 4 and 5 September. The most important concern for Estonia is that the NATO collective defence principle is upheld.

Estonia expects reassurances in regards to the NATO collective defence principle, deterrence policies, and on military cooperation with the alliance.

The government said in a statement that NATO must have a readiness to react swiftly if needed.

"NATO must have capable military forces that are properly trained and ready to react. The readiness to react means that NATO must have a strong deterrence policy in place, having a sufficient amount of military forces in the right place at the right time, and that it’s backed by an effective political decisiveness," the government said in the statement.

Estonia expects NATO to continue and enhance upon with the steps agreed under the collective defence principle that are already in place – collective air policing in Ämari [military airport in Estonia], increased operations at the Baltic Sea, regular reconnaissance flights, as well as evaluating and improving the current defence plans, if it’s necessary from the military point of view, and in the political circumstances.

NATO must adapt and change its deterrence policies, according to the changed security situation in Europe. Therefore it is important to agree upon the long-term collective defence principles and deterrence policies, the government said.