Allied battalion to arrive in Estonia in next 6 weeks

TALLINN - The NATO battalion battle group to be stationed in Estonia will arrive in Estonia within the next six weeks, by mid-April, the chief of the allied contingent here told journalists on Wednesday.

The chief of contingent, British Col. Giles R. Harris, said that the battalion consisting of about 1,200 the UK and French personnel will arrive in Estonia in the next six weeks and within the same timeframe the unit's equipment will arrive.

The command element of the NATO contingent is already present in Estonia.

"The stationing of the NATO battalion battle group led by the UK in Estonia will balance the security situation and carries a clear message of the resolve and unity of NATO," Estonian Defense Minister Margus Tsahkna, who met with Harris on Wednesday, said.

Tsahkna on Wednesday visited the command element of the NATO battalion battle group at the military headquarters in Tallinn and was given by the head of the contingent an in-depth overview of the arrival of allies in Estonia.

The minister said that by stationing battalion battle groups in its border states NATO will ensure peace and stability in the territory of all member states. The deployment of international battle groups is part of the alliance's efforts aimed at strengthening its deterrence and defense posture and vigorously demonstrates the strength of the alliance.

The NATO battalion battle group in Estonia will be stationed at Tapa and will act in conjunction with Estonia's 1st Infantry Brigade. The UK will have 800 personnel with Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, Challenger 2 tanks and reconnaissance drones stationed in Estonia as part of the battalion. France will station five Leclerc tanks, 13 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and 300 soldiers in Estonia. The French contingent will be part of the battalion in the first half of the year, to be then replaced by Danes.

In May the battalion will take part in the three-week Spring Storm training exercise of the Estonian defense forces.