Over the last 12 months, the UK and Estonia have worked in
exceptionally close cooperation to implement the commitments
pledged at the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid. Our collaboration has
delivered a more capable UK presence, better able to deter
aggression and to defend Estonia in crisis and conflict. The
enhanced eFP contributes to our shared objective of protecting
our populations and defending every inch of Allied territory at
all times.
Following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and to support
NATO’s new era of collective defence, Estonia and the UK continue
to work together to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and forward
defences in Estonia. This is underpinned by a credible forward
defence posture in Estonia which includes the Estonian Defence
Forces and the UK-led eFP Battlegroup which will be further
reinforced, when required, by a sovereign allocated UK Brigade,
held in high readiness in the UK. The UK will regularly exercise
the projection of forces up to Brigade level for the
reinforcement of Estonia in accordance with NATO’s regional
defence plans, while Estonia will provide suitable facilities to
support the UK’s permanent presence and surge capacity. Estonia
and the UK commit to holding their respective forces at the
appropriate readiness required by NATO’s regional defence plans
and will work together to explore options for future
prepositioning of equipment and ammunition forward, as required,
to enable this.
In accordance with our joint objectives, since signing the
Roadmap in November 2022, the UK has allocated an Armoured
Brigade at high readiness for the rapid reinforcement of Estonia
and uplifted the command of its eFP Headquarters to Brigadier
level, enhancing the ability to receive Brigade level
reinforcements at a time of need. In recognition of its enduring
commitment to Estonia, the UK has also converted a number of
staff officer positions to permanent posts. By maintaining
Divisional level enablers in Estonia, such as the SHORAD and
MLRS, the UK-led eFP Battlegroup continues to ensure a
combat-ready presence in-country that offers opportunities for
exercising these elements under the command of the Estonian
Division HQ. As agreed, the UK has further reinforced these by
deploying multiple surges of additional aviation capabilities
into Estonia since January 2023.
To fulfil a NATO military requirement, Estonia established the
Estonian Division in December 2022. The UK has deployed a
Divisional Advisory Team to Estonia on an enduring basis to
support the establishment of the Division and will embed staff
officers into it in the future to further enhance the UK’s
integration with the Division. Estonia will continue the
development of the Estonian Division, including by acquiring
additional high-end, Divisional level capabilities and commit to
the Divisional HQ becoming a NATO Military Body with
International Military Headquarters status within the NATO Force
Structure. The UK will provide staff officers from the allocated
Brigade to support the Estonian Division during the War Fighter
Program in February 2024, after which the UK and Estonia will
continue to look for further joint opportunities for developing
the Estonian Division.
The UK and Estonia are committed to enhancing our integration and
interoperability in the years to come. We will work together to
develop an executable plan to enable the UK to consistently
exercise reinforcement with the allocated Brigade, and other
relevant units of choice, in accordance with defence plans. In
2024 the UK will exercise its Very High Readiness Air Assault
Brigade Combat Team during Exercise SPRING STORM, and will
exercise the allocated Armoured Brigade in 2025. This will be
underpinned by a programme of Staff and Command integration
activity, with a regular drumbeat of command visits from the
allocated Brigade commencing in autumn 2023. The UK and Estonia
will continue to work closely together to ensure the UK is fully
integrated with the Estonian Defence Force’s Command and Control,
with the UK Brigade aligned to the Estonian Division and fully
integrated into Estonia’s National Defence Plan.