“Unwaveringly good relations with our allies form the cornerstone of Estonia’s security policy,” remarked Minister Pevkur. “By increasing our contribution to the international operation Inherent Resolve, which is being led by the United States, we will be reinforcing the foundations of our own security and further bolstering our alliance with the United States, Great Britain and France. By contributing together with our allies to the security of Iraq, to the stability in the Middle East as a whole, and to the overall fight against terrorism, we will also be reinforcing Estonia’s security.”
Minister Pevkur added that participation in international missions is also vital to the general development of the Defence Forces. “It will give them the chance to put themselves to the test and to practise their skills and ability to work with allies and other partners,” he said.
The government’s proposal is from this spring onwards to contribute to the operation with a unit of the size of a reduced infantry company which will fulfil basic protection and rapid response duties, as well as a national support group of staff officers and non-commissioned officers in the battalion-level headquarters in Erbil and the division-level headquarters in Baghdad of the UK-led operation. Estonia is also prepared to contribute a special-operations unit.
The government will be seeking a parliamentary mandate to contribute up to 110 members of the Defence Forces to Inherent Resolve until the end of 2023.
The current mandate issued by the Parliament for the ongoing operation is for the contribution of up to five members of the Defence Forces.
