The government will allocate over half a billion euros for the reinforcement of the defence capability of the state and for extensive national defence

‘The war of Putin’s regime in Ukraine has forced all allies to reconsider our national defence,’ said Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. ‘Today, as the summit of the NATO allies in Brussels begins, the Government at Stenbock House has approved our agreement to reinforce the national defence of Estonia by allocating a further more than half a billion euros. This, along with the 380 million euros which we already extraordinarily allocated to national defence in January, will raise the level of the Estonian defence expenses to 2.5 per cent of the GDP, on average, in the next four years. This is a historical decision,’ said Kallas.

The prime minister added that the ability of the entire society to cope with crisis situations must be reinforced next. ‘Internal security is currently the main domestic issue for Estonia, which we all share. Thus, in the course of reinforcing national security, we will also extraordinarily allocate 86 million euros to internal security. No one wants war in their home – we must give our best to make sure it does not make it here. Therefore, along with the direct defensive expenses, we have also decided to further fund the activities which will help our society to better prepare for crisis situations.’

‘No one doubts the need for the reinforcement of the Estonian defensive capability in the current security situation and the additional 476 million euros will allow us to equip ourselves even better,’ said Kalle Laanet, Minister of Defence. ‘Our decisions on where to direct the money are based on the military advice from the Commander of the Defence Forces and on the fact that the armaments acquired must immediately increase our military capability,’ he added.

Laanet highlighted that six areas will be reinforced: short-range anti-aircraft weaponry, anti-tank weaponry, indirect fire, situational awareness, infrastructure of the allies, and exercising free will through the Defence League. ‘The experience of the war in Ukraine has shown that those areas are essential in the fight against the aggressor,’ said the Minister of Defence.

The Government will allocate 86 million euros to the Ministry of the Interior for the protection of the population and the reinforcement of internal security, part of which will be used for the internal security operations related to the war in Ukraine and part for the protection of the population. For example, the funding will be used to cover the expenses of processing applications for temporary protection and on the partial restoration of the border control between Estonia and Latvia.

According to the Minister of Interior Affairs Kristian Jaani, extensive national defence has gained a new dimension in the context of the war in Ukraine. ‘We need to pay more attention to the fulfilling of the duties of the authorities governed by the Ministry of the Interior in crisis situations. This means that the military preparedness of the Police and Border Guard Board, the Internal Security Service, and the Rescue Board are also important in addition to the defence sector, as is the preparedness of the entire society to cope with this threat. Rescuers and police officers must continue to fulfil their duties in the event of a threat to peace. Local municipalities must also be well-prepared for crisis situations. This is the extensive national defence which must be funded as a whole, as one will not be able to cope without the other in war,’ stated Jaani.

Today’s funding decision is one part of the planned supplementary budget, which the government will continue to discuss next week.