Arms control measures include increasing trust and transparency between states in military matters; limiting or prohibiting the use of certain weapons and methods of warfare; restricting, reducing, or eliminating specific types of weapons; preventing certain military activities; and regulating the deployment of armed forces.
The Estonian Ministry of Defence’s work on arms control is carried out mainly within the frameworks of the United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as well as in line with the policies of the European Union and NATO.
Estonia has joined a number of international arms control agreements and also fulfils other international arms control obligations.
Estonia has joined:
The Open Skies Treaty; (in estonian)
The Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, and its Protocols. (In estonian)
Estonia participates in international meetings and negotiations in the field of arms control and contributes to increasing transparency and trust by submitting annual activity reports and sharing information. Regular participation takes place in inspection visits to military units of other OSCE countries under the Vienna Document 2011, and Estonia also hosts similar visits from other countries.
Under the Vienna Document, OSCE participating States provide each other with information on their armaments and personnel, allow visits to their military units and bases, and notify military exercises in accordance with agreed procedures when a certain number of troops or military equipment is involved. Estonia has also hosted observation flights under the Open Skies Treaty and participated in observation flights over the territories of other States Parties.
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Last updated: 14.04.2026
