July 17, 2026, 11:19 amJuly 17, 2026, 11:19 am
Britain will increase its military presence in Estonia. Next spring, 300 more British soldiers, including weapons and equipment, are to be stationed in the EU and NATO country that borders Russia. This will bring the total number on site to 1,200.
This is provided for by an agreement signed by the defense ministries in Tallinn and London. It also established closer cooperation in other military areas and the arms industry.
“We are increasing our presence in Estonia to defend NATO territory and deter Russia,” British Defense Minister Dan Jarvis was quoted as saying in a statement. The force will be equipped “with highly mobile vehicles, advanced weapon systems and high-tech drones”. According to his Estonian colleague Hanno Pevkur, their relocation should begin this year.
Great Britain’s Defense Minister Dan Jarvis.Image: keystone
The structure of the force is adapted to the conditions in Estonia and the requirements of modern warfare. The messages from Tallinn and London said that lessons from the Ukraine war were taken into account. Great Britain has led a multinational NATO battle group in Estonia since 2017. The British Army also maintains a brigade assigned to Estonia on constant standby in the event of a crisis.
Estonia has 1.2 million inhabitants and borders Russia to the east. Its war against Ukraine is seen as a direct threat to national security in the Baltic state. (hkl/sda/dpa)