Deputy defense chief: No threat of military aggression against Estonia at present

TALLINN - Maj. Gen. Veiko-Vello Palm, deputy commander of the Estonian defense forces, reaffirmed on Friday that there is currently no immediate threat of a military aggression against Estonia.

"We haven't seen such emptiness, in a military sense, behind our eastern border for 30 years," Palm said, referring to Russia having deployed its forces to attack Ukraine.

Palm said that the task of the defense forces at present is to assist Ukraine and that Estonia together with its allies are trying to send military equipment, including lethal equipment, to Ukraine to help keep its military defense going. "It's important for both Estonia and the whole world," he said.

In addition, Estonia is to increase its defense readiness and activate wartime command structure.

"We will review and update our plans together with our allies to ensure that our allies are able to come to our aid rapidly, should the situation change, and, on the other hand, we are also able to rapidly support our allies in danger," the deputy commander of the defense forces noted.

Palm said that the defense forces are also engaging in cooperation to ensure internal security.