Estonia says Russia planning military buildup to shift power in Europe
#Estonia #Russia #NATO #Baltic States #Military buildup #Intelligence report #European security
📌 Key Takeaways
- Estonia warns that Russia plans to double its military forces along the Baltic and Finnish borders.
- The buildup is part of a long-term strategy to challenge NATO's influence in Eastern Europe.
- Russia is undergoing structural reforms to restore a massive, Soviet-style military presence.
- Estonian officials advocate for NATO members to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP.
📖 Full Retelling
🏷️ Themes
International Security, Defense Policy, Geopolitics
📚 Related People & Topics
Baltic states
Three countries east of the Baltic Sea
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Rosja
państwo w Azji i Europie Wschodniej
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Estonia
Country in Northern Europe
Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Russia. The territory of Estonia con...
NATO
Intergovernmental military alliance
# North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) The **North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)** is a prominent intergovernmental military alliance consisting of 32 member states across Europe and North America. Established as a cornerstone of post-World War II international relations, the organizatio...
📄 Original Source Content
Estonia says Russia planning military buildup to shift power in Europe Russia has no intention of launching a military attack on any NATO state this year or next, but is racing to rebuild its forces as Europe steps up its rearmament, Estonia’s foreign intelligence service said in its annual report on Tuesday. The NATO member, which borders Russia, has been one of Moscow’s sharpest critics and a strong supporter of Ukraine. Kaupo Rosin, head of the service, stated that nations must invest in defence and internal security so that in the future Russia would conclude it has no chance against NATO countries. The Russian leadership is reportedly concerned about European rearmament, viewing it as a development that might enable Europe to conduct independent military action against Russia in two to three years. According to Rosin, Russia’s current goal is to delay and hinder this progress. Ammunition production is expanding so rapidly that Russia will be able to stockpile supplies for future wars while continuing to fight in Ukraine, the intelligence service said. Any potential Russian attack on Estonia would involve drones on land, in the air, and at sea, occurring simultaneously across the country's entire territory. Regarding relations with the United States, Estonian intelligence noted that the Kremlin continues to regard the U.S. as its principal global adversary, while feigning readiness to cooperate in order to secure the removal of sanctions. This strategy stems from an ambition to exploit the U.S. administration to restore bilateral relations and pursue a settlement that would formalise Ukraine’s defeat. Despite this perceived thaw, Russia’s aims remain unchanged: it seeks to marginalise the United States and NATO and to reshape Europe’s security architecture according to Moscow’s vision. The report also highlighted the role of China, which sees Russia as a useful ally to marginalise the West and as a vital source of energy if a conflict with Taiwan leads to...