“We are currently used to planning operations and following through with them primarily in Afghanistan, where national infrastructure and the status of the authorities is significantly different from the NATO member nation,” said the Commander of the Danish Division, Major General Michael A. Lollesgaard, into whose division along with his two Danish brigades are included according to NATO structure, infantries from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. “As for Estonia we are dealing with a developed nation, which has a strong infrastructure and where the battleground does not belong to the military but rather to the government of the nation.”
The Estonian authorities participating in the exercise are tasked to create a situation for the Danish Division and Baltic Infantry Brigade staff, related to domestic concerns where a fictitious nation Bothnia has invaded Estonia´s capital Tallinn and part of Pärnu. Consequently NATO Article V has been activated.
Participating in the command post exercise along with the 1. Infantry Brigade staff are Estonian representatives from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, Police and Border Guard Board, Rescue board as well as from the city government of Tallinn. From the Danish side representatives of the International Red Cross, Rescue Board, Water authority, Police as well as members of the local Defence League take part.
1. Infantry Brigade has been associated with the Danish Division since August 2009. The association is based on cooperation during exercises resulting in the ability of national staff and units to participate in joint operations.