Estonia has warned it will respond swiftly and decisively to any
attempt by Russia to test NATO’s resolve in the Baltic region, with
a senior foreign ministry official signalling readiness for
immediate military action.
Speaking to German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, Jonatan
Vseviov, secretary-general of Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
said Estonia would not remain passive in the face of potential
aggression.
He stressed that Estonia’s armed forces are prepared to act
“within hours” in the event of a crisis, pushing back against
perceptions that the Baltic states are merely vulnerable
frontlines.
“Estonia and the Baltic countries are sometimes seen simply as
territory vulnerable to attack. This is not so,” Vseviov said. “We
have armed forces — in fact the largest in the territory in
question. In the early days of the conflict we will be the largest
military force in this territory.”
Despite its relatively small size, Estonia now spends around 5%
of its GDP on defence and is in the process of building up a full
military division, he added.
Vseviov also issued a stark warning over any covert incursion
resembling the tactics used during Annexation of Crimea, when
unmarked troops—often referred to as “little green men”—appeared on
the ground.
“If ‘little green men’ cross our border, we will open fire on
them. It’s simple,” he said.
The comments reflect growing concern across NATO’s eastern flank
over the risk of escalation, particularly as tensions with Russia
remain high.
Vseviov emphasised that Estonia has long advocated for a
stronger NATO presence in the Baltic region, arguing that clear
deterrence is essential.
“For Estonia, it is fundamentally important to make clear to a
potential aggressor that any attack on the country would be an
attack on its allies,” he said, adding that maintaining allied
unity would be critical to safeguarding every inch of Estonian
territory.