At an extra meeting of the National Defense Committee of the Riigikogu on Thursday, Minister of Defense Kalle Laanet (Reform) provided an overview of the government's decision to use additional funding to improve the Estonian state's defense capability. The committee approved the allocation of half a billion euros in additional funds to defense.
Sweden and Estonia are of one mind on the importance of strengthened defense and deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, defense minister Kalle Laanet (Reform) says.
The Estonian government on 24 March decided to allocate a further €476 million for the reinforcement of the national defence of Estonia and €86 million for the capability of the society to cope in a crisis situation.
Commander of the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) Lt. Gen. Martin Herem said that Estonia should presently concentrate on developing short-range anti-aircraft and anti-tank capacity instead of medium-range air defense because it is cheaper and faster. Developing nationwide medium-range air defense capacity would cost approximately €1 billion.