Military steps up

Apr 21, 2008
In cooperation with BNS

Photo: Jim Birt

It started out as a normal Monday morning in the Baltics, but by evening, dozens of military stories hit the wires.

Estonia’s Prime Minister Andrus Ansip spoke up in defense of Estonia's participation in military missions abroad, calling it Estonia's moral duty to the West.

"It's very important for a small country to take part in foreign missions. By doing it we show our commitment to the principle of collective defense," Ansip said in his speech to participants in the 18th senior courses in national defense.

The prime minister pointed out that in the period since the regaining of independence Estonia has received a lot of help from its Western partners.

"Now that Estonia is ready to itself give security assistance it is our moral duty to do it," he said.

"A small country has little else to offer save for trust, and the promises that one has given must be fulfilled," he added.

Recalling discussions on foreign missions that took place during the NATO summit in Bucharest, the head of government stressed that Estonia fully supports improving military-civilian cooperation in mission areas.

"It is not possible to achieve a breakthrough in Afghanistan by military means alone, and it's not what one has been trying to do," he said, adding that alliance members have also invested in the strengthening of the country's civilian structures, and will continue to do so.

The militaries of all three countries are also participating in training each other as part of the Baltic Battalion Staff Intelligent Wolf in Tartu, Estonia this week.

Staff of Lithuanian Grand Duke Mechanized Infantry Battalion is expected to head to Estonia to focus on training battalion staff for improved decision making procedures by methods of using map in tactical exercise, and organizing general staff-level as well as separate subdivision-level consultations.

Staff personnel will be introduced to procedures and operations standard for battalion-level headquarters.

The exercise, to take place on April 21-25, will be headed by the commander of the Baltic Battalion, Major Remigijus Baltrenas. Estonian and Latvian staff members will attend the exercise together with Lithuanians, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said.

This is the second exercise organized for the trilateral battalion which was formed in May 2007 to complete tasks in composition of NATO response forces.

And to top it all off, a five-day theoretical training of military engineers and reconnoiter unit commanders will take place in Latvian Home Guard's Dobele battalion.

Carried out by six US Michigan National Guard instructors, home guards and professional servicemen will take part in the training, reported the Home Guard.

The aim of the training is to improve theoretical knowledge and practical skills in planning and performing military tasks, for participation in international operations.

In July Latvian home guards and troops will take part in annual field exercise organized by the Michigan National Guard in the US.

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