NATO Chiefs of Defense to discuss implementation of Madrid Summit decisions

A NATO Military Committee Conference will be held in Tallinn in September 2022 where the Allied Chiefs of Defense will discuss the implementation of the decisions on the Alliance’s deterrence and defense posture, as made by NATO Heads of State and Government at the Madrid Summit in July 2022. For the first time, as invitees, the Chiefs of Defense of Finland and Sweden will also attend the conference.

Admiral ROB BAUER Chair of the NATO Military Committee

Lieutenant General MARTIN HEREM Chief of the Estonian Defense Forces

The unprovoked war launched by the Russian Federation against independent Ukraine in February this year leaves no country untouched. Without a doubt: a new era for global security has begun. It is crystal-clear that this conflict is bigger than Ukraine. The international rules-based order is under attack. And it is up to the free, democratic nations of the world to protect it.

The Ukrainian government and people continue to resist Russia’s brutal acts of aggression. Their courage is an inspiration. NATO and Allies have provided substantial support to Ukraine since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, and will continue to provide military and financial aid and training for Ukrainian soldiers. This includes military capabilities, ammunition, secure communications, fuel, medical supplies, body armor, equipment to counter mines and chemical and biological threats and hundreds of portable anti-drone systems. All of this is making a difference on the battlefield.

The war in Ukraine has a major impact on NATO’s collective security. The NATO Military Authorities have closely followed Russia’s pattern of aggressive behavior and initiated the largest reinforcement of our collective defense in a generation. At the Summit in Madrid, Allied leaders decided to adapt our posture even further to make sure we are ready to expect the unexpected.

We are strengthening our forward defenses in all operational domains. We are enhancing our eight battlegroups in the East. And we will increase the number of high readiness forces under the new NATO Force Model. This will provide a larger pool of high readiness forces in the land, maritime, air, space and cyber domains. We will also boost our ability to strengthen and reinforce with: • More pre-positioned equipment, and stockpiles of military supplies; • More forward-deployed capabilities, like air defense; • Strengthened command and control; and • Upgraded defense plans, with forces pre-assigned to defend specific Allies.

This is the first time since the Cold War that we have these kinds of plans with pre-assigned forces. These forces will work with home defense forces, and become familiar with local terrain, facilities, and pre-positioned stocks.

For Estonia, this means developing, in cooperation with the Allies, a division-sized unit with a command structure ready to defend Estonia in the event of conflict. The United Kingdom has decided to appoint an additional brigade for the defense of Estonia, with a NATO Force Integration Unit and some sub-units to be based in the country.

It is important to note that this does not imply a permanent presence in Estonia of all the units assigned to the defense of the country, as this is not militarily necessary at the moment. The majority of units will be based in their home countries, but elements of the units with additional military capabilities will rotate to Estonia during peacetime and practice the defense of the country under realistic conditions on the ground.

During the rotations, it becomes very clear to all of them where they will find themselves in a crisis, what they may face and what they have to do, having practiced it in exercises in summer and winter, in both hot and cold weather. This helps ensure that the units are highly prepared and can cooperate fully with Estonian units in crisis and in war. The United States, France and the United Kingdom have already exercised the rapid deployment of units to the Baltic States and Poland by air, sea and land. With pre-positioned armored equipment and ammunition, such rapidly deployed units will be even more effective and combat-ready. They will also be prepared for immediate defensive action, given prior training and exercises on the ground.

The Allied Chiefs of Defence look forward to welcoming their colleagues from Finland and Sweden and are particularly pleased that their first historic participation in the NATO Military Committee Conference will take place in Tallinn. The accession to NATO of Finland and Sweden, with their impressive defense capabilities, will both enhance the security of the Baltic Sea region and the Baltic States and strengthen the Alliance as a whole. The ratification of their accession is well on track and we look forward to giving them a warm welcome!

During the NATO Military Committee Conference the Chiefs of Defence will also discuss ongoing NATO operations, missions and activities including the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) and the Kosovo Force (KFOR). Other topics on the agenda are the promotion of diversity and innovation in Allied Armed Forces in order to support multi-domain operations and digital transformation.

In total, there are currently 3.2 million servicemen and women who serve this Alliance. They will do whatever it takes to protect the one billion citizens who live on Allied soil. Now, and in the future.

EDF infantry fighting vehicle CV90 taking position during a field training exercise while a US Army HH-60M medical evacuation helicopter is taking off, at the central training ground near Tapa, Estonia, June 10, 2017. The main mission of EDF is to defend Estonian territorial integrity and to participate in collective defense with the Allies. EDF photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ardi Hallismaa

BLRT Grupp

BLRT Grupp, named one of the top 10 exporters in 2022, is one of the largest industrial holdings in the Baltic Sea region. It has three associated shipyards: Tallinn Shipyard in Estonia, Western Shiprepair in Lithuania and Turku Repair Yard in Finland, providing comprehensive services in the eld of repair and retro t of di erent types of vessels in 24/7 mode, and two shipbuilding yards: Western Baltija Shipbuilding in Klaipėda and Marketex Marine in Tallinn, with construction of cruisers, multifunctional and naval vessels on a turnkey basis as strategic direction for activities.