300 Estonian soldiers helping to safeguard Obama

300 members from the Estonian Defence Forces and Defence League will be providing additional security during the US President Obama visit to Estonia on 2 and 3 September. The operation will cost half a million euros.

"As approved by the Estonian President Ilves, 184 members from the Estonian Defence League and 116 members from the Defence Forces will help to look after Barack Obama's safety," Hanno Pevkur, the Estonia's Interior Minister, said today.

"We have to ensure border checks and safeguard the general security during the visit."

"The visit will bring additional disbursements for Estonia, but it is absolutely clear that in the bigger picture, the security of our country is more valuable than the costs associated with the visit," the Interior Minister added.

Barack Obama will arrive in Estonia on the late evening of 2 September and leave in the late afternoon next day, flying to NATO summit in Wales.