NATO and EU are main providers of security guarantees

According to the latest Public Opinion and National Defence Survey the main two providers of security guarantees in Estonia are NATO and the European Union (EU). These two organizations are considered to be of upmost importance regulating the world’s stability, most of all international terrorism and organized crime.

69 percent of the respodents are definitely for or more or less for Estonia’s accession to NATO, while 21 percent are definitely against or more or less against. Among the citizens of the Republic of Estonia, the share of supporters of NATO accession has increased to 76 percent. The percentage of supporters of NATO among non-estonians is 38 percent, while among Estonians it is as high as 83. Estonia’s support has never been so high, while the support of non-Estonians was at the same level as a year ago.

The public opinion about defence spending has remained at the same level for a long time. At present 30 percent of the respondents consider it necessary to increase defence spending, while 14 percent said they woul like to see a cut in defence spending. 45 percent say that defence spending should be kept at the current level.

It is also important to point out that the majority of respondents consider obligatory military service necessary for young men. Therefore, the dominating opinion is that overall military obligation should be preserved. 34 percent e g 3 percent fewer than in October last year, supported transition to a professional army. At the same time 78 percent of the respondents find that Estonia should move towards creating a small well- trained and well equipped military force.

The latest Public Opinion and National Defence Survey can be found here.