What happened
Estonia is moving its armed forces closer to the Russian border and building up its long-range strike capabilities in preparation for possible Russian aggression.
The country's military and intelligence chiefs believe Russia is preparing for a potential future conflict with Estonia, but do not think Moscow intends to launch a full-scale war with NATO within the next two years.
Estonia is shifting to an active defense strategy, which involves permanently stationing troops closer to the Russian border and acquiring weapons capable of striking deep inside Russian territory.
The 1st Infantry Brigade, Estonia's main fighting force, will be relocated from Tapa to Jõhvi, just 50 kilometers from the border, as part of the new strategy.
Estonia has signed contracts to acquire nine US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems and nine South Korean Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems, both with a range of up to 300 kilometers.
The country's defense spending will rise 42 percent this year to €2.4 billion, and Estonia is changing the types of weapons it procures to focus on long-range strike capabilities.
The UK has committed to increasing the size of its military contingent in Estonia from 800 troops to 1,200 by April next year, and will play a role in Estonia's new defense posture.
