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Fourteen different nations have contributed to the Baltic Air Policing Mission thus far. Hungary and Italy have stated interest to participate in the mission in the future. The Baltic states are not the only NATO nations which airspace is patrolled by other NATO member states. Belgium provides air policing to Luxembourg and Italy is in charge of Slovenia and Albania. In addition, partner nations Finland and Sweden contribute to Iceland Air Surveillance Mission.

According to the decision made by the North Atlantic Council, NATO member nations provide air policing to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in rotations as of March 29, 2004 as the Baltic states joined the Alliance. At the Chicago Summit in 2012, the North Atlantic Council extended the Baltic Air Policing Mission to an indefinite period of time.

At the meeting, the generals agreed on exchanging operational information via a secure videoconferencing system between the Headquarters of Estonian Defence Forces and JFC Brunssum. The system will speed up information exchange and improve cooperation between the two headquarters. Similar secure communication channels have been established between most of Allied Nations and NATO commands for the purpose of more effective information exchange, harmonized cooperation, as well as better planning of exercises and operations.

Terras and Domröse confirmed that the NATO Response Force exercise Steadfast Jazz held this year clearly demonstrated serious cooperation between Estonia and defence planners of Allies in developing contingency plans for the Baltic countries during the year preceding the exercise. Major General Terras said it was important for Estonia that Allied forces had both regional contingency plans as well as a cohesive exercises schedule in place to support the aims.

In 2014, Estonia will take part in Trident Jaguar and Trident Juncture NRF exercises with staff officers and in 2015 in an exercise to be held in Spain with the Scouts Battalion. In 2016 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will contribute to NRF with a Baltic battalion, the core of which will be made up by the Scouts Battalion.

General Domröse last visited Estonia in November to discuss NATO forces military activity on Estonian soil within the framework of the Steadfast Jazz exercise, where Alliance members trained defending Estonia in a situation where a member state is attacked by an hostile superpower. When the NRF is activated in 2014, JFC Brunssum will be responsible for military operations of NRF.

JFC Brunssum, in the Netherlands, is one of two NATO joint force headquarters, the other being JFC Naples. Operational command of the NRF alternates between the joint force commands in Brunssum and Naples.

“It has become a tradition that, every winter our school children have written letters to Estonian soldiers. We want to let our Defence Forces members know that even in far away Canada, Estonian children still care about them. We want Estonian soldiers to have confidence, mutual understanding and a peaceful Christmas,” said the chairwoman of the Toronto Estonian Supplementary School, Elle Rosenberg.

The Toronto Estonian Association has helped organize that over 30 Christmas cards have been made by the Toronto Estonian Supplementary School elementary and high school students. As of 2006, Estonian language students in Canada have been sending Christmas greetings to Estonian Defence Forces members serving in Afghanistan.

“Dear Estonian soldier! I thank you for defending my Estonia and the world. I wish you a Merry Christmas. I am very proud that I am also an Estonian boy!” proclaimed 8 year old Oliver in his letter. Genevieve, who lives in Toronto, wrote in her Christmas card: “I know that you have a difficult job and that you serve proudly. I could not do it because I would be afraid. But you are brave! Thank you for that!” As did the majority of the children, Genevieve asked the soldiers, if they could find the time to write back to them.

As of November the last Estonian contingent is serving in Afghanistan, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Maidu Allikas. Major Viljar Laaneste is commanding the Infantry Company Estcoy-17 and the commander of the support element unit NSE-16 is led by Lieutenant Rodion Sorokin. The last infantry company will be returning home in the late fall of 2014. Support group units and staff officers are scheduled to serve in Afghanistan under the new NATO mandate after the forces drawdown completes next year.

“There is a marked progress in the development of the Estonian Defence Forces in the past years,” said General Puheloinen, who last visited Estonia in 2010. “In Estonian as well as in the Finnish Defence Forces we see similar restructuring in both forces to make the command structure more efficient.” According to General Puheloinen, the most important similar mainstays of the Estonian as well as the Finnish Defence Forces are mandatory military service and the approach to national defence of both nations.

Major General Riho Terras added that the national defence rationale of the Estonian and Finnish defence forces have independently both come to the same conclusions. “We are currently jointly involved in the EU Mali mission and in the future there will definitely be opportunities of closer cooperation within the Baltic battalion and the NATO Response Force,” said Terras. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have invited Finland to join NRF as part of the Baltic battalion in 2016.

During his visit to Estonia General Puheloinen also met with the Chairman of the Parliamentary Defence Committee, Mati Raidma; the Minister of Defence, Urmas Reinsalu as well as visited NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence and the North-Eastern Defence District where he was familiarized with the activities of the artillery battalion and anti-ballistic battalion. The Finnish Commander also received an overview of the new National Defence Development Plan approved in January and an update on its current implementation.

Since the re-establishment of the Estonian Defence Forces, Finland and Estonia share a close cooperation. Estonian officers have received higher military education and graduated the Finnish staff college, educational cooperation for Estonian officers and instructors continues to this day in training with armoured vehicles in Finland.

Finnish Defence Force members have participated in the NATO Response Force exercises Steadfast Juncture and Steadfast Jazz. Finnish representatives also took part in the NATO organized, cyber defence exercise, Cyber Coalition 2013 in Estonia, last month.

Estonian and Finnish instructors are serving along with Swedish, Latvian and Lithuanian Defence Force members in the Nordic–Baltic instructional unit at the European Union training mission in Mali. With a recent joint radar system procurement Estonia received two and Finland 12 Groundmaster anti-ballistic radar systems.

General Puheloinen left Estonia today.

Around 70 conscript members of Estonian Defence Forces, specializing in operating with Sisu Xa-180 armoured vehicles, will be assigned to the reserves with the top graduates being selected for further training as platoon leaders.

According to Commander Kalev Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Hannes Alesmaa, the armoured vehicle training given to conscripts fulfills an envisioned goal for the Defence Forces whereby the entire 1^st Infantry Brigade would become a mechanized unit. Until now the use of armoured vehicles has been exclusive to the professional active duty members of the Scouts Battalion. The armoured vehicles Sisu Xa-180 and XA 188 have been used in ISAF operation in Afghanistan.

The government approved new National Defence Development Plan 2013-2022 outlines the Defence Forces´ armoured vehicle manoeuvrability capability. The active duty members of the Scouts Battalion will receive modern infantry combat vehicles, the rest of the manoeuvre battalions will be supplied with armoured vehicles.

Kalev Battalion conscript training with armoured vehicles was initiated by Defence Forces this autumn. First conscripts to receive training in armoured vehicles began their service in July, with specialized education program after their basic training completion mid-September.

Sisu XA-180 EST was first used by Estonian Defence Forces in 2004. The Defence Forces procured Sisu XA -188 armoured vehicles from the Netherlands in 2010. Compared to the earlier model Sisu XA -188 has stronger armour along with longer lasting basic armour defence against IEDs and landmines that will withstand attacks from up to 14.5 mm calibre weapons.

Sisu XA manufactured in Finland, is a six wheeled infantry armoured transport vehicle initially produced for the Finnish Defence Forces.

Estonian Defence Forces currently have 56 XA180 and 52 XA188 armoured vehicles in use, with 25 more XA188 vehicles being delivered in 2015.

The instructors' team, headed by Captain Jüri Tõnisma, also includes two Lithuanians and is supported by Mali officers and non-commissioned officers. The program's working language is English, but instructions are translated into French and Bambara, a regional language.

The Estonians' experience ranges from missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As part of the EU's effort to stabilize the country, which is in a conflict with Islamist rebels, the Estonians are providing assistance in a training, planning and consultation capacity, and are not participating in combat operations. They are based in a Nordic-Baltic training center, alongside Finnish, Swedish, Latvian and Lithuanian instructors. The EU mission involves roughly 500 members of armed forces from 22 countries.

Estonia has also deployed a staff officer and senior staff non-commissioned officer to the EU mission's headquarters in Bamako, the capital. Additionally, one Estonian DefenCe Forces member is serving in the UN peace-keeping mission MINUSMA.

© ERR

"Cyber attacks are a daily reality and they are growing in sophistication and complexity. NATO has to keep pace with this evolving threat and Cyber Coalition 2013 will allow us to fully test our systems and procedures to effectively defend our networks - today and in the future," said Jamie Shea, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges at NATO Headquarters.

In addition to NATO headquarters and agencies all over Europe, authorities from 27 member nations as well as partners Finland, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Ireland take part in the three-day exercise. The European Union and New Zealand will participate with an observer role.

Cyber Coalition 2013 will include around 400 information technology, legal and government experts from across the Alliance and partner nations improving their cyber defence skills. The exercise will be conducted from the Estonian National Defence College training centre in Tartu.

The exercise is based on a fictitious crisis scenario where by all participant nations have to deal with warding off simulated cyber attacks. The scenario requires action, coordination and collaboration from cyber defence specialists and management bodies.

Cyber Coalition 2013 will check NATO and its partners’ technical and operational responsibilities and review the coordination of cooperation between the participants.

As a Host Nation, Estonia will provide exercise infrastructure, training facilities and logistics support. In addition to Ministry of Defence and Estonian Defence Forces, Estonian Information System Authority and NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence based in Tallinn, Estonia will participate in the exercise or its preparation process.

With around 100 participants in Tartu and over 300 in national capitals from 32 nations, Cyber Coalition 2013 is the largest exercise of its kind in terms of participating countries.

The members of Estcoy-16, National Support Element-15 and staff officers were welcomed by the Minister of Defence of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu; the Commander of the Defence Forces, Major General Riho Terras; the United Kingdom Ambassador to Estonia, Christopher B. Holtby as well as friends and relatives.

The service members returning from the NATO-led operation received recognition for participating in the international military operation from the Minister of Defence, Urmas Reinsalu at the reception ceremony given at Ämari Airbase.

Reinsalu thanked the service members for their excellent service and for the support from friends and relatives. “Every service member can peaceably concentrate on their military assignments when they know that everything is fine back at home. You can be proud of your husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers,” he added.

Among the award recipients six Estcoy-16 members were recognized by the Commander of the Defence Forces and were decorated with the Estonian Defence Forces Meritorious Service Order with “Swords” for individual bravery as well as four members receiving the Defence Forces Commendation Service Cross for outstanding duty.

“The experiences gained in Afghanistan will become a valuable asset in 2016 when the Baltic states will contribute to NATO Response Force with a joint contingent, largely based on Estonia’s Scouts Battalion,” Commander of the Defence Forces, Major General Riho Terras said.

At the reception ceremony, the returning Defence Forces personnel donated 3000 Euros to the Carolin Illenzeer Foundation which they raised by organizing goodwill shooting competitions in Afghanistan.

Estcoy-16 stationed at Camp Bastion served under the Helmand Command as a manoeuvre company carrying out infantry operations with an aim to fragment the insurgents, limit their movement - and manoeuvrability and search for hidden caches.

The infantrymen served in Helmand province for 200 days, took part in 18 operations and had 184 combat contacts with the insurgents. 767 dwellings were searched and 60 hidden caches found which contained mostly IED producing material, ammunition of various calibers, weapons and narcotics.

The last Estonian contingent in Afghanistan, Estcoy-17 scheduled to return home late spring 2014, took over the responsibility on Sunday. After the forces draw down process completes, Estonia will continue to contribute to NATO Resolute Support mission with support elements and staff officers.

Highly respected Mr. President,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Members of Parliament,
Excellencies, members of the Defence Forces,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my privilege and honour to welcome you to the formal celebration of the 95th anniversary of the Estonian Defence Forces.

The Estonian Defence Forces were established on the 16th of November, when the Provisional Government decided for the sake of national defence to call upon volunteers to form a National Military.

The nations of the world had just a few days earlier attained a long awaited peace from the First World War; unfortunately this did not mean peace for Estonia. This was only the beginning for Estonia. Thousands had to pay the supreme price for our young nation. The Estonian people and the Defence Forces had no time to prepare or jointly train for the Independence War; it was a matter of survival, a do or die situation.

The decision of the newly formed republic to defend itself gun in hand had historical implications, thanks to the resolve of the nation’s leaders as well as the bravery of the largely volunteer military, it was shown to the world that the desire for Estonian Independence was not a peripheral result of the post World War collapse of Imperial Russia but that we were serious about our freedom. 

Thanks to that determination we were able win our Independence War. Thanks to that resolve we were able to define our borders with the Tartu Peace Accord.

Today, 95 years later we can confirm that we received international recognition due to our perseverance shown in the Independence War. The international community did not rush to share that recognition after the declaration of independence or even after the signing of the Tartu Peace accord. It took time to convince the world as a whole that Estonia had fought as a nation to take its place and remain on the map of the world.
Thanks to this international recognition and later non-recognition by our friends and allies of the occupation of Estonia, could we absolutely and concretely talk of the legal continuity in the restoration of the independence of Estonia. The principle that ties our nation historically and as a whole with today’s event.

Honoured guests,
The Estonian Defence Forces has a modern army. Our knowledge, skills and commitment are geared to counter modern threats, regardless from where ever they may come from in the world. 

Estonia's national defence planning, training preparation and carrying out, by participating in international military operations, must maintain the one clear and simple principle – The Defence Force’s and the Defence League’s mission is to defend the nation of Estonia, and to do that in conjunction with our allies.

In order to best protect our nation, it is wise from time to time to look at the arsenal at our disposal. To look over the personnel and assets, to measure the effectiveness of the organization, and to have a serious analyses on whether and how to best address the completion of the main task at hand.
We have gone through this journey in the development of national defence. During this process we were able to get, for the first time a clear view of what we are able to achieve with the existing situation and what more needs to be done to defend the nation of Estonia.

The Estonian Defence Forces defend the country today and right now - but we can still better the situation. The National Defence Development Plan and its implementation is a major step toward an even stronger defence. We need to have the faith, commitment and dedication of each member of the Defence Forces and Defence League. Only then do we have a reliable future together. It is imperative for soldiers to have confidence. Whether it be confidence of knowing that all is well at home, or to know that your activities are well regarded by your peers and that your nation supports you and sees a benefit from your service to the state.

The support of the nation is very important to the Estonian Defence Forces. Our origins and structure is a military force of the people. Compulsory military service based on reservists along with the volunteers of the Defence League is the bridge that unites the people and national defence. This makes the matter of National Defence for you and me and all of us very important.

Speaking of the main strength of our military national defence force, namely the reserves, I would particularly like to highlight the contribution and hard work of our reserve officers. On the one hand, they are our ambassadors between the military and the general population. Secondly and equally as important they are the leaders of our Reserve units. The initiative and sincere interest in the welfare and defence of our nation by the Reserve Officers is a fine example to us all.

Honoured guests,
The Defence Forces and the Defence League have earned the strong support of the nation. The great confidence and support of the people comes with great responsibility.  The national budget accords 2% of our national Gross Domestic Product to be spent on Military Defence. This is considerably more than many of our friends and allies in Europe, which has given us more credibility. This has created a seriously taken and trustworthy reputation for Estonia.

Consequently, we have the financial responsibility to utilize every cent and Euro accordingly and to the best use of our everyday military capabilities and resources. This means that there must be a well planned and balanced use of the funds designated for our defence capability. We must highly value our most important asset - our people's contribution, we must look to the future and make prudent investments as well as soundly planned procurements; we must substantially maintain the Defence Forces.

A wage increase for the Defence Forces was implemented in the spring of this year, which increased significantly the income of our personnel. But let’s look beyond the monetary amounts. Money is always important but without status and consequent honour and sense of duty we would be not worthy to militarily defend our nation.

Keep your vocation honourable!

Ladies and Gentlemen,
As stated earlier, we protect our nation along with our allies. Good relations with our allies are important for Estonia, because it provides a strong and visible deterrent.  As in the principles of the Musketeers - one for all and all for one, NATO Article V, guarantees the best possible security for Estonia.
In order for this guarantee to be valid, today, tomorrow and in the far future, it is necessary to hone skills with exercises as well as know and recognize our friends and allies. Our efforts are directed towards the goal that NATO will be better prepared to meet any threats. To use the best and safest way to consistently train together and taking into account the interests of all our allies.  

Having just finished a major exercise, Steadfast Jazz in Poland and Latvia is a clear sign that the defence of Estonia and our neighbours is taken seriously. Our security is part of the Alliance's security.

We've done a lot, so that Estonia’s message would be heard, that we are taken into consideration. Cooperation with NATO and within the framework of the European Union, as well as bilaterally with key allies, has targeted the achievement of a higher objective - securing our safety and survival.
As everyone in this hall knows, NATO does not only conduct exercises. NATO has been involved in combat operations in Afghanistan for ten years. This demonstrates the strength and determination of the alliance. A weak and spineless NATO could not accomplish this. It is clearly obvious.

By next year the Allied mission in Afghanistan in the current format, will come to an end. During the last ten years, the military capability of NATO has increased primarily due to shoulder-to-shoulder joint battlefield experience. This experience is invaluable, and the increase of level of skills and knowledge must be implemented with the security of all of the allies in mind. 
Combat operations in restless Helmand province, has opened a new page for Estonia in cooperation with the United States, Great Britain, Denmark and several other allies. Understanding each other, and with joint experiences on the battlefield has given a sound foundation for even closer cooperation in the future. Knowing that you can rely on our friends and allies, even in the most difficult situations, gives courage to soldiers, and adds to the security of Estonia. I hope to welcome our good friends from units of the British, Danish and USA forces to our Independence Day parade on the 24th of February in Pärnu next year.

Honoured guests,

A couple of weeks ago we brought home a monument from Camp Bastion with names of Estonian soldiers fallen in Afghanistan engraved upon it. The simple commemoration, which kept the memory of our honoured fallen far from home, finds a new location in Paldiski, in a birch grove by the First Infantry Brigade.

I want to thank the Chairman of the Government and the Chairman of the National Defence Commission as well as the Estonian Reserve Officers for all their support. With this support, we put a memorial up there, where there are friends, fellow soldiers and brothers in arms - people who appreciate the significance of this modest memorial the most.

Please rise, remembering those who have given their lives for Estonia. We will remember you.

Thank you!
Estonia has outstandingly fulfilled its commitment to its allies with honour. I do not tire of saying nor can not stress enough – The Estonian soldier is the best in the world. I want to highlight the military NCOs, our iron hardware, whose knowledge and experience is a constant firm support to officers in battle as well as in exercises.

The Estonian Defence Forces have evolved and grown with the nation of Estonia. Our mission is to defend this country, and we take this responsibility very seriously. Today is a good day to think about it in this formal yet festive atmosphere.

The anniversary of the Defence Forces is a day when we can recognize those who have given and been the best of the best in their service. To those who have found a special mention due to their contribution to the development of the Defence Forces. I'm sure everyone in this hall as well as those in the Defence Forces units all over Estonia, but especially in operation areas, far from home, deserve recognition.

I congratulate you on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Estonian Defence Forces. I wish us all strength, success and good sense in the national defence of Estonia.

On our way here we discussed various things between each other and decided that neither one of us knows were we should be running to from our homes if Estonia was attacked. There is a joke: that Finland never importunes the Russians yet builds shelter bunkers below their houses, Estonia picks quarrels with the Russians but does not build bunkers.

I actually worked on this matter when I was with the Defence Ministry, though officially civilian protection is the Ministry of the Interior’s responsibility. Another example is that in time of conflict the Social Ministry would coordinate medical assistance at hospitals. The program has not progressed at the speed I would have liked. People really need to know where to go or find shelter during a conflict situation.

Have our forces learned from the Taliban resistance in Afghanistan? The Taliban’s tactics of concealment could be a positive example to the Estonian partisans or the Defence League, but in Syria there are urban battles, where the government is attacking with Russian artillery and tanks. In the defence of Estonia, which situation will be prominent, rural forest fighting or urban battles?

In a full out war, we will have no escape from neither. In an urban battle scenario the peaceful inhabitants should be evacuated. Countries that have unfriendly neighbours, for example South Korea or Taiwan, have border defence facilities. Estonia does not have these.

Fortifications are from the past. We must be manoeuvrable and know our own terrain. The forests and Lake Peipsi are our border defence facilities. We have urban battle training facilities at the Guard Battalion and the Kuperjanov Battalion.

By the way, if clearing an apartment building do we prefer to attack from the roof top downward or from the ground floor up?

From the top down.

The Estonian Defence Forces are prepared for urban battles. Our officers and soldiers are capable of decisions and commanding our units under intensive fire, much better than our opponents. We have learned this in actual battle situations and not simply in exercises.

Why has the Russian military exercise Zapad 2013 made people so anxious? Estonian counter intelligence states every year, that Russian military activity is enlarging. Is it finally happening? Is it true that the Swedes have brought their tanks to the island of Gotland?

Yes it is so. As of this past autumn the Swedes have realized that the pendulum of peace has moved since 2000. You can’t only go on expeditionary missions and forget to defend your own country. The awakening call was on Good Friday when Russian fighters flew within the Swedish borders and their own jet fighters could not respond in time to control them, whereas NATO Baltic Air Policing fighters were able to.

A Russian intelligence vessel sailed through the straights between Gotland and mainland Sweden, which has not happened since the Cold War. International agreements allow vessels to sail these straights but this does not occur in normal practice.

I hope the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium have taken a note the Russian activity. They have been like Snow White, in a deep slumber compared to the awakening with Norway or Turkey. The Russian have organized a comprehensive battle ready trial that reached the polar arctic dimensions. Zapad 2013 was part of that larger exercise. It was the first time since the Cold War that an exercise encompassed that large a mobilized force. Defensive exercises using civilian structures were conducted in Oblasts and and villages (The Russians do not have a voluntary Defence League like Estonia). Vehicles  in individual use were requisitioned. Large military units were repositioned without any major problems. Alarms went out to internal units and special forces in Moscow. NATO was told the total number involved was 13,000 to 15,000, but actually up to 100,000 men were called up.

The Air Force was deployed close to our border but again without any provocations. The Estonian border did not allow any „accidental“ border intrusions. But it was the first time that right close to our border an Iskander ballistic missile system was fired.

Goodness! It has a 900 kilo warhead and can fly up to 500 kilometers – out to Saaremaa for example. Sweden has no rockets at all. The Americans have written that the Iskander will fly up to 700 km, over the Gulf of Finland for example. How can the distance of same rocket be so differently rated?

(Humourously) With good weather they can fly farther, but their maximum distance is still 500 km. But there is no reason for concern, the Russians are not prepared nor have the need of attacking anyone right now.

Zapad 2013 was an impatient muscle flexing demonstration, as if to say „I can, if I want“. Russia has removed their conscripts and deployed professional active duty soldiers close to Baltic borders. The military units in Pihkva Oblast are well funded and well manned. But they have understood that they are not capable of vigorously developing new weapons like the T-90 tank. Instead they are equipping older T-72 tanks with modern computer controlled systems. This is definitely sign that they are attempting modernization that would come useful in modern days.

The Russian forces surprised the world during the Georgian war, in that they did not have night vision equipment, the Georgians of course did. Do the Pihkva special forces armoured vehicles and Smolensk attack helicopters have night vision capabilities? When will the Russians finish their own satellite communications and will no longer have to depend on the American GPS?

Our neighbours south eastern forces have procured powerful control systems. GLONASS has not started to be used yet, but the first signs show that in the near future it will happen and we must reckon with that. The Russian are capable of having modern helicopter projects or modern technological projects but they can only produce solitary examples and not on a large scale. We are more concerned about the attack helicopters and transport helicopters that are now situated by our border.

In Ostrov, by the Latvian border there is a helicopter regiment?

Correct.

There are M-35 attack helicopters along with digital fire control in Smolensk. There is a new camp in Vladimirsk that was not there previously with 4000 personnel, rockets and artillery: the new Uragan that can rake the terrain 70 kilometers away. France additionally is building two Mistral amphibious assault ships that Ansip once said that it was a bluff, those ships will never arrive. Should we protest in front of the French embassy?

Those soft shelled ships, without defensive systems are still in dry dock and their so-called assault capabilities will not affect the Baltic nations, because we can be easily attacked by land, if they so desire. I believe the whole show of strength by the Russian forces centred here in the Baltics simply is a ruse, meant to hide their own defence problems. Real military challenges are lurking by the Russian Chinese border and in the Caucasus. Here in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania they have little to win, if anything at all. They realize that war is won by the force that has the most friends and NATO has no opponents for domination in the skies.

We are able support the activities of one mobilized brigade with our Mistral short range rocket launcher. We have plenty of rockets. Our radars work efficiently deep into our eastern neighbour's territory. We just procured new radar systems with Finland.

Eesti Ekspress wrote in the Spring that Estonian junior officers salaries are less than Russian junior officers. This was surprising. Upon this discovery you raised the junior officers salary to somewhere around 1200 Euros. Interesting competition. Still at the same time do Russians really need to spend money in their northwestern sector?

Russian officers don’t want to live somewhere deep in Siberia. They want to be in northwestern Russia which has always been a developed area of Russia and thanks to the military exercise Zapad 2013 they are learning how to rapidly move large strategic units. From mid Russia to here and back again. In my opinion they are insuring their western border, in four years conventionally doubling their presence. At the same time they are able to bring bring their forces from Siberia to here quickly. The Soviet military was also constantly at the western border. Over 300 military facilities were built in Soviet Estonia. The movement of forces to the western border was a strategic signal to the west then and still is to this day.

The Russian northwestern and western border forces are stilled manned mostly by professional soldiers. At the same time one can speculate that if the FSB were to initiate a security company somewhere in Australia for example, that were to offer our Scouts Battalion members $3000 USD per month, our Scouts Battalion would be very quickly empty of personnel? Our eagles are currently stuck somewhere in India.

Russia is going towards a professional army. We have remained to true and to our concept, whereby we maintain our reserves from a trained conscript base.

The Estonian Defence Forces has 3150 cadre members and our goal is to take that to 3570 by 2022. When it comes to movement of the Scouts Battalion active duty members, then I don’t believe the young men of the Scouts Battalion should remain there 10 or 20 years. When they come back from operations abroad, they have a little extra start up capital and experience which they can sell. As we see, the martime security companies pay well, of course the risks are higher and the work not very enjoyable. At some point they will get sick of this and come back. We are not going to compete with these conflict area security companies where quite probably they are currently being paid $3000. I have no problem if an officer ends his military agreement for a couple of years to do something else and then comes back to his service. We have calculated this into our development plans. The Defence Forces do not require our members to be with us for 50 years. If someone else outbids us, then fine – we let them go and train someone else to replace him. Estonia wins economically in this scenario.

The salary raise in the Spring brought Estonian Defence Forces members close to the top level in governmental employee salaries. We stopped the mass migration from the military, Scouts Battalion which was at 50% capacity is currently at 85%. NCOs in the Kuperjanov Battalion are arranging house mortgages for the first time, there is a feeling of assurity. Finally, the Russian junior officers pay raise came just prior to the presidential election, they have now been greatly decreased.

Of all of the NATO nations the Baltic border is most unbalanced border in that our traditional enemies as the chronicles state strongly outnumber us. We figure since our population is so small, there is no way we can properly defend ourselves. For example if 12,000 of our young men were to die in a conflict, our nations future population would be in jeopardy. Can someone take a white flag and surrender? Or is this legally not possible? In todays society, is the sanctity of our borders more important than life?

Of course war is always a crazy situation and a catastrophe, but Estonia must fight to the bitter end. Even in an occupation situation. I do not conceive of a white flag waver. Estonia must be defended, that’s it!

You have initiated a strong drill atmosphere in the military, push ups and two mile runs. Former Commander Estonian Defence Forces, Ants Laaneots said that our youth are macaronis. Now, I understand that some officers, like media favourite, Lieutenant Colonel Peeter Tali must wait a while for his next promotion until he is more proficient in his physical testing. Did your son enlist as soon as he was called up?

Yes, my son chose mandatory service this year. He was in University for a year and then decided to volunteer for service, I was of course very pleased by this. He wants to become a battalion fire base commanding officer. In basic training he received 297 points out of a total of 300 in his physical test. Sports tests were previously in the military, they were not especially stressed upon. Now I train as do others.

The other thing I require is shooting ability and I initiated a shooting instructor system.  You win wars, if you shoot better than your enemy.

It was brought out in the news that only three quarters of policemen know how to shoot which means a quarter do not know how to. How are the Defence Forces?

(Somewhat morosely) The Commander of the Defence Forces shooting competition was still won by the police force.

How virile are Estonian officers? The Russians Commanders behind our border have so-called killed with their own hands by commanding forces in the Caucasus and Afghanistan. Some have visited our units.

I have had meetings with them in their headquarters. They are real warriors. We have amicably shared war stories.

What percentage of our forces are combat officers and what percentage are ballroom officers?

I do not know what a ballroom officer is. Since my first day in the Defence Forces, the first three-four years were very serious. I slept at my desk and there was not a ballroom anywhere. As the military attache in Germany and in Warsaw, I was responsible for bringing the Milan anti tank rocket launcher and artillery to Estonia. Those 2000 vehicles that are in the various units were negotiated at German receptions and saunas.

The former Minister of Defence, Jürgen Ligi, said once that the Defence Forces should be totally a professional military. This decision was part of the Reform Party platform program. He may have said what he said but still thanks to his realistic vision, Ligi never wrote a single order to that effect. Where would we be today with a professional army?

The professional armed forces idea was not pressed upon by Ligi, but actually NATO,  that at the time was very involved in international operations. All the member nations were pressed upon. As is the case in Latvia, where now it is clear that due to their professional army, they have no reserves to mobilize in time of crisis. Even worse since they have no mandatory service, their youth have absolutely no contact with the military. We have been able to convince NATO, and honestly even convince Latvia and Lithuania but you can not change past political decisions. The Latvian Defence League is also small comparably to their size of their territory, 8000 members to the 13,000 in our Defence League.

You were the military attache in Germany when Herman Simm betrayed Estonia and sold our mobilization chain of command and command structure military secrets. Did you know that Simm was also a German spy additionally to his being a Russian spy? Germany kept quiet initially but then formally apologized to Estonia. Have you heard the apology?

Edward Lucas told me that he was a German spy. All of Herman Simm’s treason has cost the Republic of Estonia a lot. The command structure had to be redone. Several other things as well. I have not heard an apology. Simm is a real lowlife.

What else have our troops learned in conflict missions? How is it possible that without anything similar to a West Point education, the Taliban is able to so effectively and logistically organize the removal of casualties from a battle before sunset? As well as destroy the Allied armoured vehicles without any air power support.

When a country has been at war for over 30 years, that is their military academy.

They cannot read or write but know very well how to manuoever in familiar territory against their enemy, it is in their blood. But the Taliban has a hard time finding commanders among themselves anymore, the most recent leaders have come from outside their country, mainly from Pakistan. After NATO leaves, I believe Afghanistan should choose a monarchy as head of a relatively flexible tribal society.

Is it true, what one of our intelligence members revealed: that he grew a beard, learned a few local phrases and moved about Afghanistan gathering information like a local?

All military intelligence members have beards there, you are not considered a full man without a beard. Our intelligence gatherers and unit leaders had good results in discussions with locals as well as with Afghan national army members.

And the last question: Where will the next mission be for Estonians? Is it in Mali,  Africa, where our reporters spotted Estonian troops? Are our troops using VW Touareg SUVs there to get to the Touareg people?

We have six men in Mali. One is involved in intelligence analysis, the others are training Mali soldiers, basically conscripts in the use of firearms. Intelligence shows that the situation is, due to the timely intervention of the French, under control. If the oil rich country of Nigeria was in conflict, there would be cause for alarm. The Touaregs have been dislocated in four different countries due to set borders, they have to be assisted by the Mali government in discussions towards autonomy. The VW Touareg SUV is too expensive for the Estonian Defence Forces.