The Warsaw summit, which is of historic significance for Estonia, approved on Friday a final decision to deploy to Estonia a multinational battalion of independent defense capability as part of a long-term planned rotation, spokespeople for the government said.
It was confirmed that Estonia's long-term partner United Kingdom will become the framework nation of the battalion not later than 2017, and that Denmark and France will also bring troops to Estonia.
«This is a breakthrough that unambiguously demonstrates NATO's solidarity and the fact that Estonia is better protected today than ever before,» Roivas said after the meeting of the North Atlantic Council. «Approximately 1,000 troops from different NATO member states being stationed in Estonia will become a new normality. This is a direct confirmation of the alliance's defense and deterrence posture – a signal that an attack on one is an attack on all and it's not worth picking a fight with us.»
Another important goal for Estonia was fulfilled today – to strengthen the stance adopted at the Wales summit 18 months ago to reinforce the initial security measures. This means continuing the air policing mission from the Amari air base, a stronger and faster NATO Response Force and a NATO staff element in Estonia.