The vision of defence policy of the Government of the Republic of Estonia (extract):

The goal of the national defence policy of the Governing Coalition is to ensure Estonia’s security and military protection in the most effective manner, which takes contemporary and strategic threats into account.

International cooperation is indivisible and the main guarantor of Estonia’s security is international cooperation. The defence of Estonia cannot be separated from NATO or the defence policy of the EU and the development of the Defence Forces must be a part of the international whole.

To that end the Governing Coalition shall:

• develop the Defence Forces towards modernity, mobility and rapid reaction capacity and emphasise the development of specialised capacities;

• actively and reliably perform its international ally obligations. Take the national defence expenditure to 2% of the GDP by 2010. Ensure participation in NATO’s rapid reaction forces NRF14 to the extent of a third of a battalion and in the Nordic Battle Group by 2011;

• plan the size, reserves and infrastructure of the Defence Forces pursuant to present defence needs and financial and human resources. The Governing Coalition shall develop a uniform system for recruitment of members of the Defence Forces;

• develop military units by ensuring high quality and modern training centres and high quality training conditions (incl. military training areas, simulation and training systems), non-work and sports facilities;

• analyse the possibility of shortening the time of minimal compulsory military service;

• ensure regular training of reservists and estimate the size of the reserves realistically, according to training and usability. The Governing Coalition shall create operative mobilisation and civil and military cooperation plans for crisis situations;

• apply the principle of civil management without deviation. Implements required regulations,–notably adopts the Defence Forces Organisation Act and updates the Peace-time National Defence Act in order to give the Minister of Defence political and legislative opportunities for taking responsibility for the activities of the Defence Forces;

• consider air surveillance as a priority of the Air Force and continuance of NATO’s air surveillance. In the composition of the Air Force the Governing Coalition shall create a common national search and rescue service corresponding to NATO’s standards, which also performs civil duties (search and rescue of humans, transport of the ill, monitoring fire and pollution, etc.). The Governing Coalition shall reconstruct the Ämari Airport so it is suitable for NATO cooperation and the host country;

• continue the present development of the Navy and develop the Mine Port;

• considerably increase the financing and the role of the Defence League upon performance of military and civil duties, ensuring suitable cooperation with civil structures. Develops the Defence League into an effective and reliable territorial system;

• ensure the ability of the Defence League to participate in international missions;

• strengthen the ability of cooperation of the Defence League upon solving civil crises jointly with volunteers, ensuring the mobility and training of the units of the Defence League and providing the minimum equipment required to that end; cover the expenses relating to the training of the members of the Defence League and acquisition of modern equipment; initiate a system for remuneration of volunteers;

• ensure the availability of the teaching of national defence in schools and increase the role of the Defence League in increasing the awareness of national defence and the will of defence;

• pay special attention to the activities of the youth organisations of the Defence League, ensuring actual cooperation with the education system;

• initiate the rotation of members of the Defence Forces between the Defence league and the Defence Forces;

• continue and expand participation in international defence-related research and development, mostly through NATO’s research and technology research organisations;

• remember Estonia’s fight for its freedom, value freedom fighting as the basis for Estonia’s independence and present rapid development and support erection of monuments remembering veterans of armed and unarmed combat and freedom fighting. The Governing Coalition shall have the cemetery of the Defence Forces put in order.

Source:

The Government of the Republic of Estonia

For further information, please read the National Security Concept of Estonia, adopted May 2010.