European and Estonian security
DSEI (Defence Systems and Equipment International) bills itself as the “world’s leading defence and security event”. Over 1,500 companies from 50 countries showcase their wares to an estimated 30,000 people over a four-day period at London’s ExCel Centre. During day one, I caught up with Estonian Eli Airborne Solutions and …
Estonian innovation: day one at DSEI 2013 defence expo Read More »
Estonia will in January 2014 take over command of the Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON) to which the Estonian Navy will contribute a mission unit and a staff and support vessel. The 15th anniversary of the establishment of the joint Baltic mine countermeasures was marked in Klaipeda, Lithuania in August. The …
Estonia to take command of Baltic Naval Squadron next year Read More »
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons of the Belgian Air Component have today taken over NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, after a ceremony at Šiauliai Airbase in Lithuania. Responsibility for airspace integrity over the Baltic states was transferred from the French Air Force, who had been on duty since April 30 …
President Barack Obama will host Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Latvian President Andris Bērziņš, and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė at the White House on August 30. This is the first such meeting at the White House since 1998. By Luke Coffey The four heads of state are expected to discuss …
U.S. – Baltic relations: Laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation Read More »
Tarmo Miilits, Estonia’s deputy director of the Police and Border Guard Board, has been named the new Head of Eupol’s mission to Afghanistan. No Estonian has previously held such a high position on a EU mission. Miilits is leaving his post as deputy director of the Police and Border Guard …
The last but one Estonian combat unit in Afghanistan, ESTCOY-16, conducted nine bigger operations in Afghanistan in the area of responsibility of Task Force Helmand since taking over responsibility in mid-May. The longest operation of the nine lasted four days. During operations the soldiers have searched through 344 building complexes …
Estonian ESTCOY-16 carries out nine big operations in Afghanistan in three months Read More »
Poland has joined the European Defence Agency Joint Procurement Initiative scheme for the common purchase of ammunition for the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle. The scheme, initiated by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in March 2013 is run by the EDA, which acting as a central purchaser, pools and consolidates demand and …
Poland joins Baltic States’ ammo procurement scheme, Czechs signal intent Read More »
During a March 2013 visit to NATO Headquarters by Estonia’s President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen remarked that “Estonia is an exemplary ally. Your troops are serving shoulder to shoulder with their NATO colleagues in one of the toughest parts of Afghanistan. They perform their duties with …
Infographic: Defending Estonia – the Estonian Defence Forces Read More »
The four Robinson R44 helicopters of the Estonian Air Force have been modified with night vision technology in order to expand their night-time air search and rescue and surveillance capability. The helicopters have been retrofitted with a night vision imaging system and external lighting which works alongside night vision goggles …
Estonian Air Force upgrades night vision capability Read More »
Estonian World has become the first media outlet to launch a security section dedicated to the defence matters of the Baltic Sea region. In 2007, Estonia faced cyber-attacks that have been widely acknowledged as the world’s first cyber war. At the peak of these attacks, fifty-eight Estonian websites were offline, including …