Estonia plans to spend more money for its defense budget with an increase of 37 millions euros 12709151

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Defence & Security News - Estonia
 
Estonia plans to spend more money for its defense budget with an increase of 37 millions euros.
Estonia plans to spend 449 million euros ($503 million) on defense in 2016, an increase of 37 million euros compared to 2015, according to the defense ministry press service.
     
Estonia plans to spend 449 million euros ($503 million) on defense in 2016, an increase of 37 million euros compared to 2015, according to the defense ministry press service. Washington state National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Jason Muzzy, an observer-controller from Company A, 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, assists an Estonian soldier before the group leaves the motor pool for training at Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Aug. 27,2014.
     
The country's military expenditure will grow by about nine percent to approximately 2.07 percent of gross domestic product, according to ministry data.

About 40 million euros will be allocated to purchase new weapons, equipment and ammunition for the main strike units of the defense forces, the 1st and the 2nd infantry brigades, the ministry said.

The defense ministry will also spend some 10.1 million euros to develop infrastructure for NATO forces.

Estonia joined the NATO alliance in 2004, along with Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The average size of the Estonian Regular Armed Forces in peacetime is about 6000 persons, of whom about half are conscripts. Voluntary Defence League has also about 15000 members. The planned size of the operational (wartime) structure is 60 000 personnel (high readiness reserve is 21 000 personnel).

In 2006, the NATO member states pledged to devote two per cent of national GDP to defence, and yet most of its European states have reduced their budgets in the following years instead.

Estonia joined NATO on March 29, 2004. Active NATO membership will always remain the top priority of Estonian security and defence policy, as it allows Estonia to productively participate in international security co-operation and represents the most certain guarantee of Estonia’s national defence.