How is Estonia dealing with heightened Russian threat to its security?

Russia perceives the Baltic states as the most vulnerable area within Nato, says a recent report from the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service.
It said in the event of a Nato-Russia conflict, it is probable that it would happen on Nato's eastern flank.
How has Estonia been dealing with the heightened threat to its security?
More: www.forces.net/nato/baltic-states-face-heightened-vulnerability-within-nato-says-estonian-intelligence
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[@SwiperTheFox-sz3sw]

Estonia looks beautiful! Would love to travel there sometime.

[@janecote]

I promise you you won't be sorry.

[@KrK-EST]

You are welcomed here 👍

[@SwiperTheFox-sz3sw]

@@KrK-EST thank you 🙏

[@Hairysteed]

Tallinn, especially the Old city is really tourist-friendly! Lots of good restaurants! Pretty much everyone under 40 speaks good English and there's a ton of history in the city! Also the Botanical gardens and the TV tower in nearby Pirita are great spots to visit.

[@gaius_enceladus]

Good on you, Estonia! Cheers from New Zealand!

[@aspitofmud6257]

Everyone needs to step up their game. Thank you for stepping up yours.

[@paulwalker427]

so what have you done to up your game?

[@JC-uo5rj]

@@paulwalker427 grow up

[@latviabalkanumuzika1514]

Elagu Eesti! 🇪🇪

[@NiskaMagnusson]

if NATO didn't exist nations such as the Baltics would likely still be part of Russia's sphere, and not by choice either. NATO might not be perfect but it's better than the alternative

[@KrK-EST]

That statement is flawed. We took our independence back and are and have been willing to do anything to keep it, made many plans since the 90's to do that, those and many more new in place and constantly added. With or without NATO we will resist any foren ocupation.

[@NiskaMagnusson]

@@KrK-EST on the contrary despite the brave resistance groups in the Baltics it appears more that the collapse of the USSR was the thing that guaranteed baltic independence, a lot of that was certainly influenced by protests in places like Lithuania, but I believe outside support is necessary for infinitely smaller nations with smaller populations to remain independent when the Russians are playing at empire next door.

[@sergeyloverow2105]

What's so good about NATO? It may look good on a paper but not in reality even if there was no such threat as Russia or other countries. Even the so called "threat" from Russia there is no actual threat if anything the NATO is a threat to Russia for violating the pact for not expanding on ex Soviet states. Also the NATO is supposed to be "defensive" organization yet it was bombing Serbian Belgrade city in 1999 and participated in Afghanistan war. Useful tool this NATO for rich elites to use it as an excuse to gain more power no much different from the Soviet Union tactics. Think about it.

[@Tuhajuhan]

@@KrK-EST We might resist Russia forever (Estonian/eestlane siin), but there are several important political choices made in the west to help us, such as the Welles Declaration (1940) that acknowledged the independence of the Baltic republics de jure. These 'little' things are what give countries like us a vital lifeline to legitimate existence. F Russia! Hope it finally finds an identity other than hating the USA.

[@Lili-eh6pz]

@@NiskaMagnusson Are you trying to teach the people of Baltic states their history? Baltic states, starting with Lithuania, was one of the causes why Soviet Union ceased to exist. By taking their independence back they set the precedent for other states. Because of timing, Estonia did not end up in bloodshed, but russians were ready to suppress the protests. Defending a small country against barbaric russia definitely needs outside support. What he probably means is that in case they should be left on their own again, they will be ready to fight and defend themselves,

[@Von45Rose]

Good to hear this. Democracy must be protected.

[@t3nta380]

From another democracy? lolz

[@Leo-eh8hm]

@@t3nta380 there is no democracy in russia

[@t3nta380]

@@Leo-eh8hm if there just was any way to prove your conspiracy theory😫😫😫

[@Leo-eh8hm]

@@t3nta380 In Russia, the same regime rules with the coming to power of the criminal Putin. Google the Lake cooperative, these are criminals who have taken government positions and distributed everything to their relatives, and the standard of living in Russia has fallen even more with their arrival, and the ever-growing corruption testifies to this.

[@purpplekushh]

@@t3nta380 one president for 20 years isn't proof? lol

[@David-xh9cw]

Cool guys the Estonians, lucky to have them on board

[@CausticLemons7]

I hope the great city of Tallinn never becomes Tallinningrad, which is why I'm so glad all of the Baltic states are pushing so hard to keep NATO strong.

[@peabase]

More likely, there'll be a newly-independent Ingria to the northeast of Estonia. Ingria will be apply to join NATO, of course. Lithuania will gain a southern neighbour called Amberland.

[@Patrick.Datura.]

Приходят два эстонца в публичный дом: - Что В-в-ы мож-ж-ет-т-е нам предложит-т-ь за 5 дол-л-ларов? - За пять долларов можете друг у друга в кустах отсосать! Эстонцы пожали плечами и ушли. Через полчаса возвращаются: - Скажит-т-те, а ком-му ден-ньги оттать?"

[@user-zy1vp2sw9c]

About the name. The city used to be called REVAL. There are different theories what that meant. The one I like says that it means the falling of the deer. The Danish king who had just one a battle here was so ecstatic that he went on a hunt. And scared a deer so that he fell off the cliff which is Toompea, the heart of Tallinn and Estonia and the seat of the Parliament. Today we have the statue of deer in that place he supposedly fell. This probably the best known peace of art to all Estonian, everyone knows it. It is small but really beautiful. Tallinn means Danish town. And the name was only adopted quite lately, I think the 19th century. I personally like Reval.

[@skye1013]

​@@user-zy1vp2sw9c another interpretation of "Tallinn" is "Tower City," so named during Danish occupation. Nice story about the deer, thanks for sharing.

[@k.t.1641]

Estonia has been the only one besides a very few others, who have paid their dues in nato. Now all these other Europeans are scrambling to fill the gaps. 😂

[@cr3292]

Cuz the other nato countries especially the big ones don’t care about the smaller countries in EU or Nato

[@martinkoitmae6655]

In Estonia we are taking our defence very seriously

[@KrK-EST]

Allways have and will. Even criple like me has something to offer.

[@GeneralWinter9]

The thing is we don't like you or even care about you or your fake democracy. I stand with Russia

[@Patrick.Datura.]

Нагнулся и получите удовольствие 🎉

[@colby25]

@@Patrick.Datura. Enjoy your uncivilised nazi style future......Наслаждайтесь своим нецивилизованным будущим в нацистском стиле

[@antonycollins22]

We take our freedoms sometimes for granted here in the west, imagine Estonia and others constantly in fear of being invaded, thank goodness NATO has there backs🇬🇧

[@deividasnavickas]

Lithuanian here. I wouldn't say we are in fear of russia. Beefing with them for the good past 200 years it would be just another Tuesday for us.

[@bikes02]

@@deividasnavickas Sure

[@antonycollins22]

@@deividasnavickas glad you have that mentality, 👍

[@paulwalker427]

*our

[@antonycollins22]

​@@paulwalker427 corrected😊

[@Jarod-te2bi]

Bless the Baltic States ❤

[@peterstrianus1790]

We will never surrenbder. Long Live Eestimaa.

[@Patrick.Datura.]

Приходят два эстонца в публичный дом: - Что В-в-ы мож-ж-ет-т-е нам предложит-т-ь за 5 дол-л-ларов? - За пять долларов можете друг у друга в кустах отсосать! Эстонцы пожали плечами и ушли. Через полчаса возвращаются: - Скажит-т-те, а ком-му ден-ньги оттать?"

[@cr3292]

I think turkey can take Estonia

[@Tuhajuhan]

It is difficult living next to a neighbour that moved in a thousand years ago next to our native lands and has a complete identity crisis. It is just... aahhh. Annoying. Get a grip, Russia.

[@cr3292]

Dude Estonia population is only one 1.5-1-8 million with 309 thousand Russians .. ur neighbor next door has 130 million people .. who has an identity cross ?

[@Tuhajuhan]

Population numbers don't give anyone an identity when the Russian state is just a rudderless Sopranostan. China has 10x more identity than Russia or...? Borrowing Western tech to become powerful in c. 1700, borrowing Western philosophy (and tech again) to become bolshevik, becoming an oligarchy worshipping Western Europe and then moaning that the West is poisoning Russia and it's culture. Too much of Russian state identity is entirely reliant on what the West thinks or feels about it (and the West doesn't think or feel that much of anything about Russia). @@cr3292

[@TheHookahSmokingCaterpillar]

"Si vis pacem para bellum," as Vegetius said.

[@tarmop8695]

Kalevi is battalion not brigade level unit.

[@ylovaht2097]

Ukraina Faucci BIORELVA TEHASED NAPATI ESIMESEL päeval venelaste poolt MEIE KÖIKIDE POOLEST ja PUNKT nii kui aina...liitlased aitasid ikka ka ja liiga targad ei tea seda enne kui Balti aadllikud kasakad kaikaga saadavad taas

[@andypritchard5126]

Better than we are. Better kit, better equipment and better attitude

[@DA-of9sv]

Estonia looks beautiful 😍 firstly!! Need to go.. bucket list an all that. However the WHOLE of Europe needs to spend more UK france Germany Italy Spain Holland Belgium especially. Listening to an American think tank advisor, who was criticising UK Germany and he said " we in NATO should not have expanded to the baltic states. They should be spending more than 2% of GDP if the the wolf his at the door. We can't protect everyone especially if state's and not going to pull their weight in terms of spending enough on defence!!! He's right the UK said 3% now its 2.5% at the end of the decade.. 😢

[@davidhouseman4328]

Just European NATO spends multiple times that of Russia.

[@THEoneYETI]

don't over estimate Russia, there budget is still lower than the UK alone..

[@cr3292]

Doesn’t matter most of the stuff UK and Germany gave to Ukraine was old nato stuff

[@cr3292]

U think those large nato countries u mentioned give a damn about other Baltic or former Soviet countries in nato ? Their just happy they don’t gotta spend a dime

[@DA-of9sv]

@cr3292 well they should as its in their interests!!!.

[@Jarod-te2bi]

Glory to all nato members ❤

[@MultiCren]

I think the truth is currently Estonia has less threat than it has for years from Russia. They’ve always been aware of Russian intentions, the only thing that has changed as far as Estonia is concerned is that the troops and kit that would invade them are largely dead or fighting in Ukraine.

[@Ta-Nel]

Defence plans are built in 100 years perspective. , Our eastern nation won't be a peace-loving hippie nation any time soon. It wouldn't take RU too many years to get their military might up to what it was in spring of 2022.

[@christopherpearce2831]

The threat is not a direct invasion they are more likely to be victims of subvertion little green men to creat the situation that would favour a ground invasion

[@MultiCren]

@@christopherpearce2831 I understand that, but that threat is not heightened, it’s always been present and it is still there as always, I’m questioning the statement that Estonia has heightened threat to its security and the fact that threat requires manoeuvres, if the threat is subversion exercising a bde is not necessarily the way to prevent subversion.

[@kalle911]

Judging from a recent lecture held by the chief of the army, it wouldn't take Russia more than 5 years to restore their capabilities. But that's why we're aiming to ruin Russia's day if they wanted to try something, by increasing the number of our reserves and that's why we're getting HIMARS and more.

[@Patrick.Datura.]

Приходят два эстонца в публичный дом: - Что В-в-ы мож-ж-ет-т-е нам предложит-т-ь за 5 дол-л-ларов? - За пять долларов можете друг у друга в кустах отсосать! Эстонцы пожали плечами и ушли. Через полчаса возвращаются: - Скажит-т-те, а ком-му ден-ньги оттать?"

[@MrDosonhai]

Russia is the greatest threat to its neigbors. That country needs to be divivded and fight among themselves.

[@GeneralWinter9]

The United States is the greatest threat to your freedom and country. Russia's not the problem it's your master.

[@cr3292]

Wrong there’s many Russians that live in Estonia and they get along with each other .. this narrative that Russia wants Estonia , Finland and Latvia was a scare tactic by EU and NaTO to get these counties to buy more weapons and it worked . The US and Uk defense industry is laughing tot then bank

[@skye1013]

Russia needs to stop invading other countries, no? This is 2024, not the Middle Ages.

[@heathmurphy3735]

I'm glad we can all now name our "Enemy" on exercises lol

[@cr3292]

U must not be from Estonia than

[@heathmurphy3735]

@@cr3292 probably not..

[@suomiman100]

0:02 thailand? i thought this was about estonia??

[@SophisticatedDogCat]

She said Tarlun.

[@skye1013]

Tallinn

[@majordragone2911]

Kalevi battalion not brigade

[@robertwilkinson8421]

Bravo Estonia, Leading the way with Defense spending above the level of most other Longtime NATO allies. This is setting an Example that most other NATO Allied Countries are reluctant to even try and match.

[@cr3292]

Turkey ?

[@thomassecurename3152]

The thing that is impressive is the ownership and responsibility the Balkan Peninsula and nearby states have for their future. They are living and threatened by Russian bloodlust. Russia killing is their history. Russian growth is malignant, build nothing, destroy destroy destroy.

[@bradysylvester4371]

*baltic

[@imarmadyl5309]

LETS GO ROGER SHOW THEM THE XEROS WAY!!

[@TheMVCoho]

Asking for NATO countries to increase defense spending sounds an awful lot like what President Trump was saying years ago on a trip to Europe when he asked NATO partners to meet the bare minimum 2% they all agreed to. As one may recall Trump was heavy battered by the media for asking Europe to honor its word. This being the same Europe who lectures the the USA on government programs such as healthcare, education, public transport etc all the while happily enjoying the idea that America is investing in Europe's defense.

[@scottcassidy982]

Whose gonna tell him USA is part of NATO. And such puts into the funding of all NATO allies.

[@samuel10125]

Mate if the whole of Europe is lecturing America on how it runs things then there's a problem infact the whole world lecturers America or have you forgot that by the standards of today you guys are still a very young country with more growing to do?

[@scottcassidy982]

@@samuel10125 I'm not American 🤣🤣

[@samuel10125]

@@scottcassidy982 Well you sounded very defensive so assumed you were.

[@davidhouseman4328]

Trump wasn't batter for asking countries to spend more, as you said the common, before and after. But for threatening not to fulfil article 5. He chose not to reiterate the commitment at the beginning of his term. The unity of NATO is more important than the spend.

[@MusicShortsGlobal]

Protect democracy

[@hazelking2730]

But i thought they wete not part og the war but thete armored vecjiles derp into the vollages not good i will not be happy for tjis.if i live here not safe anymore😮

[@00vTv00]

In regards to title: POORLY!!!

[@samantha4843]

Ouija Brett

[@samuel10125]

Honestly given the performance of the Russian military in Ukraine Estonia doesn't need our help if Russia tried to invade them they wouldn't get far.

[@bikes02]

Wrong attitude to have, big mistakes are made when you think you can just sit back instead of being prepared for anything that could happen

[@samuel10125]

@@bikes02 Given the state of things in our country right now we have far more to worry about than Russia invading Estonia, which won't happen. Cuts to our military our military, Police, public and emergency services a cost of living crisis. Our military has been pretty much destroyed all the while our government hands off precious equipment to Ukraine equipment we are in desperate need of as far as I'm concerned the UK is on the verge of collapse in every way possible. We need to stop supporting Ukraine with equipment they haven't enough we have done our part we need to sort out our homefront before involving ourselves in the issues of other nations.

[@tams805]

@@samuel10125 No, We have a moral duty to help Ukraine, and as part of the democratic world, it's best that we do everything we can to ensure that they win, otherwise the battle of democracy vs. autocracy will come closer to home.

[@bikes02]

@@tams805 Totally agree with what you say

[@netiturtle]

@@samuel10125 UK was one of the guarantors of Budapest memorandum. If Ukraine still had nukes, Russia would never have invaded it. No matter how you look at it, Ukraine got shafted, one of the guarantors is the invaders and the other two failed to prevent the 2014 and 2022 invasions. Given the circumstances and the support US and UK have given, I'm not overly critical, but any aid going to Ukraine is what they deserve, it's not a charity

[@arjunsandhar578]

W

[@danielbb8570]

Estonia defence minister he better then uk defence minister he getting more money in the military not cutting down the force

[@PeterSedesse]

All power to Estonia, they did a great job helping Ukraine. But this is mostly fear mongering. Russia has 0 military troops on the border of Finland or any of the Baltics. There are also 0 military troops in Kaliningrad other than ship crews. If not for nuclear weapons, all of the countries bordering Russia could just walk in and wouldn't meet any resistance until they got to Moscow. It is really one of the minor things that annoys me. These countries could help Ukraine if they mobilized their troops and put them on the border similar to how Russia did in the 6 months leading up to the invasion. They should be forcing Russia to redeploy troops out of Ukraine to defend their borders. Japan could be doing the same thing in the east.

[@peabase]

You're not very clued in. I counted no less than 18 Russian nominally brigade-size units near the Finnish and Baltic borders. Saint Petersburg, which is close to both Finland and Estonia, is a very busy area militarily. The same goes for Murmansk and Kaliningrad.

[@jayhollyoake9419]

🪖🪖🪖

[@Liam1991]

We just need a war 😊

[@GiveMeEyeballs]

pure propaganda

[@Paul22192]

Defence strategy? Liars coalition government in Estonia lets in from Russia thousands military age men with Russian passports. So called Ukraine refugees. Does Russia really freely lets ukrainian men travel in its territory and cross borders. Yes, Estonia has defence strategy😂

[@skye1013]

A defense strategy is better than an aggressive, war-mongering one.

[@NoBody500xL]

Russia occupied Estonia for 50 years?! Well Wikipedia tells me Estonia was a part of the Russian Empire for about 200 years till it ended in the Russian Civil War in 1918. Or do you mean the Soviet Union occupied Estonia for 50 years (with the help of the Nazis)...? Guys, listen, I know this might shock you, but the Soviet Union and the current Russian state don't have much in common. Matter of fact, the russians are playing that capitalism game better than some richer states nowadays. Yes, they still have to learn about freedom of speech, but you must understand that for the government in russia, as they learned it from their predecessors, freedom of speech just means a loss of control [over the population].... and who wants to lose control over a driving vehicle, ...hm?

[@rupsikas1950]

Estonia was part of the Russian Empire but since Estonia hadn't been an independent state it can't be considered an occupation of Estonia. Sweden essentially agreed to give Estonia to Russia. However in 1940 the USSR "acquired" Estonia through illegal means. Soviet Russia had signed a treaty with the Republic of Estonia in 1920, one points of the treaty being that Russia will lose all rights to Estonian land for eternity. Also there had been this new thing made called "international law" which also prohibited occupying land through the means of force, however that was not the case in the 18th century. That's why, when we talk about occupation, we mean the Soviet occupation. Also, Russia is the legal successor state of the Soviet Union. It doesn't matter if they have anything in common economically.

[@Leo-eh8hm]

ruzzia calls itself the legal successor of the Soviet Union, you know too little about it.

[@NoBody500xL]

@@rupsikas1950 that's correct, Russia is the legal successor state, yet the soviet union wasn't just "Russians". It consisted of a bunch of nations, including Belarus, Ukraine and others, therefore, no, Russia did not occupy Estonia, it was the Soviet Union. How come all former soviet countries are allowed to say no to their soviet history, but Russia isn't...? So, if a country was oppressed by the USSR, all former Soviet countries should be considered as the criminals behind that, because there were not just Russians making the decisions. There is no justice in blaming everything on one group of people. The Estonians should blame all the other former Soviet countries as well. Period.

[@skye1013]

​@@NoBody500xL you complain about "a bunch of nations" and "former 'soviet' countries," meaning actual independent countries and nations, not partakers of communist ideology. BTW everyone knows these independent countries and nations were illegally annexed and not joined willingly with their soviet oppressors.

[@Paul22192]

There's not such thing in Estonia called democracy. In the world there are only three countries where is internet voting possible - list of those democratic countries: Putin's Russia, Maduro's Venezuela and... Estonia. 😅

[@peabase]

That's your idea of democracy, internet voting?

[@oranienbaum]

Прибалтика будет под Россией до 2100

[@sergeysergeev7564]

Why do you call "Ukrainian militants" an army? There has been no army in Ukraine since 2014, when there was an armed seizure of power by internal terrorists. The "army" of Ukraine consists of mercenaries who came from all over the world, they all have ultra-Nazi views, wear a swastika, draw a "German cross" on military equipment, as was the case with Nazi Germany in 1943. All these "militants" are united in battle groups, formed on the basis of the fascist detachments of the German army in 1943. Zelensky even calls the detachments the names of SS combat detachments, for example, "Edelweiss". All these mercenaries are war criminals, many of them were in the Taliban and ISIS. ...many mercenaries committed such war crimes that they were even banned by Ukraine itself, for example, "Tornado", "Azov", "Kozak" and others. Don't call Ukraine's war criminals an army! Ukraine is a terrorist country.

[@sergeysergeev7564]

There is no army in Ukraine, all whom you call "the army" are mercenaries who arrived and joined the detachments of the internal combat corps of national groups, for example, "Azov", "Tornado" and others. This is not an army, these are groups united on the army idea, and funded by the state. All these groups consist of mercenaries, and those whom the state grabs from the streets and forcibly takes them into the "army". Ukraine has been a terrorist country for 9 years now, ruled by a tyrant and dictator for the money of the United States, just because he decided to fight against Russia. Ukraine has long ceased to exist, the only thing on which it still rests is on the financial support of all countries that have decided to "attack Russia" and in the hope of doing it with the hands of Ukraine .. Stop funding it and Ukraine will fall apart. The entire "Army" of Ukraine is war criminals who in 9 years destroyed their cities, destroyed their people, shot the population, burned settlements, provoked conflicts, fabricated various situations in the hope of denigrating Russia, for example Bucha .. which has already been proven that it was a "theater" ..and many, many..many..other provocations to denigrate Russia. The "Army" of Ukraine itself consists of former terrorists who participated in ISIS and the Taliban. Don't support Ukraine. By supporting Ukraine, you support terrorism.

[@asecretcountry]

Typo in headline "How is Estonia dealing with heightened American threat to start a world war using proxy troops.." Fixed

[@ewaldseiland8558]

Of course mate

[@Clarkem1]

Keep on Kremlining On Comrade! 😂 🤡

[@aspitofmud6257]

If it sounds like and acts like and smells like a Kremlin orc it probably is a Kremlin orc.

[@Pemmont107]

None of the NATO countries have ever said they'd use nukes, whereas our "neighbour" to the east threatens to do so nearly every day.

[@resistancerat]

Russia is literally invading their neighbours, but USA is responsible. Sure, sure redneck.

[@chipngo9758]

Thank god Baltic States decided to join Nato Alliance and European Union by literally holding up each other by hands. Keep strong Estonian knights💪Long live the democracy❤

[@shadownet5443]

E Pluribus Unum

[@Dave_Sisson]

Que?

[@shadownet5443]

@@Dave_Sisson Motto of Estonian Scouts Battalion.

[@Dave_Sisson]

@@shadownet5443 Someone in Estonia speaks Latin? Their language is closest to Finnish, the Roman Empire never went near it and it's a Protestant/Atheist country with a few Orthodox and almost no Catholics. So I never would have thought Latin would be a thing there.

[@shadownet5443]

@@Dave_Sisson History is full of surprises.

[@kalle911]

@@Dave_Sisson in the 19th century Latin and Greek were common in the educated circles of any christian country, catholic or not. Also, scouts battalion was formed first in 1918 and restored in 2001.

[@GeneralWinter9]

As a Ukrainian I don't like Estonia very much, as a matter of fact I will fight against it.

[@karliskokorevics6902]

As a "Ukrainian". Vova, you aren't fooling anyone.