“We are constantly contributing 5% of the state budget to the development of Defence Forces ready to go to war not in the future, but if necessary, this evening. Is it logical to assume that if the Defence Forces must be ready to go to war today, figuratively speaking, the same crisis could come to the rest of the country and society in the years to come in a forthcoming state budget strategy period?” President Kersti Kaljulaid asked opening the first ever Estonian National Defence Conference.
President Kaljulaid emphasized the importance of self-confidence: “We are pretty damn self-confident.” In her opinion, Estonian society as a whole should prepare to defend itself, and by being ready to defend itself, Estonian self-confidence would increase even more. “It is much more difficult to attack a self-confident nation,” the President noted, adding that Estonia needs real readiness; one piece of the puzzle does not create the whole picture.
Threats, defence capabilities, and comprehensive defence
The first ever Estonian National Defence Conference consisted of three rounds of discussion: threats affecting Estonia, Estonia’s defence capabilities in the international context, and comprehensive national defence.
Aggression, terrorism and Chinese financial influence were named as threats.
Internationally, Estonia’s defence capabilities are affected by relations with allies and the enhanced Forward Presence, warming relations and dialogue with Russia, and European Strategic Autonomy.
Minister of Defence Jüri Luik noted that the enhanced Forward Presence is not simply a public relations project. He also said that steps to improve relations with Russia would be drowned out as soon as words went into action.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu emphasized that sanctions against Russia have worked, i.e. the situation in Ukraine has not escalated. He also said that Estonia has acted frivolously in response to the domestic politics of Estonia’s biggest Allies – the United States, Great Britain, and Poland.
The European army is an empty word, Sven Sakkov, director of the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS), said. In contrast, he believes that strengthening European Strategic Autonomy (ESA) is a serious issue. According to Sakkov, ESA means that Europe must be able to make political decisions if it is to ever take military action in its region. An ICDS report on this subject is expected soon.
We never know what the next crisis will be or when Estonia will be hit, but we must be prepared. This notion was underlined in the discussion on comprehensive national defence, an idea that not only refers to military and internal defence but also covers all of society. With a comprehensive understanding of planning and national defence, it is important to start conducting civil exercises so that people are trained and truly know how to react during a crisis. Communications expert Raul Rebane pointed out that the lack of a great unifying narrative is a vulnerability in Estonian society. It was once an aspiration for NATO and the European Union membership, but now those goals have been met.
Local authorities and entrepreneurs
After three rounds of discussions, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas presented the government’s assessment of Estonia’s defence capabilities and comprehensive national defence.
“It is clear that we need to step up cooperation with our local governments and entrepreneurs in order to be better prepared for potential crises,” Ratas emphasized. “In the future, the effectiveness of our activities and resources, such as whether it is efficient for Estonia to have three fleets and three maritime observatories, will also receive increasing attention.”
20, 40, 2100
The Estonian National Defence Course’s (ENDC) first National Defence Conference brought over 500 graduates together in Tallinn on October 2nd. The courses unravel Estonian defence and security, foreign policy, comprehensive national defence, and teach crisis resolution.
20 years, 40 courses, over 2100 graduates – Madis Mikko, director of ENDC, summarized the two decades of work in those numbers. The ENDC has grown into a Russian-language national defence course, where, according to Mikko, participants are particularly surprised at how close the country can be to people. In addition, KÜDI, the advanced cyber security and digital nation course, is scheduled for this autumn. There is also a special course for IT professionals in the ENDC.
“Thanks to us, similar courses have been launched in Georgia and Lithuania,” Mikko noted.
ICDS organised the first Estonian National Defence Conference in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For years, ICDS has hosted the Lennart Meri Conference, an internationally renowned security and foreign policy conference, and the Annual Baltic Conference on Defence (ABCD) for issues related to defence.
“There was a very important link missing in this chain: our own platform for exchanging thoughts and holding discussions on what we do and why we do it,” Mikko explained, adding that the ENDC alumni are well equipped to evaluate, discuss, and improve Estonia’s state of affairs and developments.
The first National Defence Conference was opened by Kersti Kaljulaid, President of the Republic. Estonian defence, threats, and defence capabilities were analysed by Minister of Defence Jüri Luik, Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu, Minister of the Interior Mart Helme, Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop, Director General of the Estonian Security Police Arnold Sinisalu, Director General of the Information System Authority Margus Noormaa, and other higher state public servants and experts. Prime Minister Jüri Ratas gave concluding remarks.
Picture gallery from the conference
Media coverage:
- President Kaljulaid: Comprehensive National Defence is not Available Free of Charge (in Estonian, Estonian Public Broadcasting)
- The government is preparing for a major blackout (in Estonian, Estonian Public Broadcasting)
- Sven Sakkov about the first ever Estonian National Defence Conference (in Estonian, Kuku Radio)
- Kalev Stoicescu alumni of the Estonian National Defence Course about the conference (in Russian, ETV+ morning programme)
