News
22.09.2022|Ministry of Defence
The Government is inviting reservists to the defence readiness exercise OKAS/QUILL 2022
The purpose of the readiness exercise is to practice the functioning of the reserve army. There is no direct security threat to Estonia. The exercise is conducted yearly with the Government decision and with no previous notice to the participants. The Estonian reserve-based...
19.09.2022|Ministry of Defence
Minister of Defence Pevkur: Due to Russian aggression, it is extremely important to develop early warning and defence systems
Today in Tartu, Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur opened the Electronic Warfare Live defence industry conference, where he emphasised that due to Russian aggression it is extremely important to develop early warning and defence systems.
“Russia’s war in Ukraine is a war against Europe. This is a...
19.09.2022|Ministry of Defence
Minister of Defence Pevkur: mid-range air defence will be operational by 2025
According to the Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur, following the government’s budget negotiations, a decision has been made to allocate funds to mid-range air defence that will allow an operational system by 2025.
“Mid-range air defence was one of my priorities and I am very glad that the...
19.09.2022|Ministry of Defence
Pevkur at meeting with Stoltenberg: Implementation of Madrid decisions should move forward swiftly
Today in Brussels, Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discussed strengthened NATO presence in Estonia.
“The framework for strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture was agreed in Madrid. Major decisions that also affect Estonia have been made and...
14.09.2022|Ministry of Defence
Pevkur to Zelensky in Ukraine: Estonia is putting together the next aid package to Ukraine
Yesterday in Kyiv at meetings with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur reaffirmed Estonia’s continued support and lauded Ukraine’s resistance during the war.
“The...
09.09.2022|Ministry of Defence
Pevkur and US Secretary of Defence Austin discussed greater US presence in Estonia
Yesterday at the Ukraine Defence Consultative Group at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin met bilaterally to discuss increasing the US presence in Estonia through regular rotations and exercises.
“Secretary of Defence Austin...
07.09.2022|Ministry of Defence
Estonia and Poland to jointly procure short range air defence systems
Today in Poland, the Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur and Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak reaffirmed the need to strengthen defence cooperation between the two states. As a first practical step in that direction, within the framework of the ministers’ meeting, the...
02.09.2022|Ministry of Defence
Over EUR 175 million of the defence budget reached the Estonian economy in 2021
In 2021, defence investments and economic expenditures by the Ministry of Defence totalled EUR 328 million, of which 53.5%, EUR 175.5 million, made its way back to the Estonian economy.
In total, Estonia’s defence budget for 2021 was EUR 645 million. Of the EUR 175.5 million that reached the...
30.08.2022|Ministry of Defence
Estonia supports the EEAS proposal on training Ukrainian armed forces
Today at the informal meeting of European Union defence ministers in Prague, Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur expressed support for the European External Action Service proposal on creating a military training mission for Ukrainian armed forces.
“Estonia has contributed to training the...
29.08.2022|Ministry of Defence
Persons with a national defence obligation will be able to volunteer for state defence
The renewal of the National defence obligation register next year will result in a reduction of paperwork and better data management. It will also give those with a national defence obligation the opportunity to volunteer for internal security or military defence activities.
“At the moment, there...