Estonia says it can fight Russia for 'several weeks' before NATO troops arrive

Estonia could withstand a Russian attack for two weeks before NATO support arrives, a senior Estonian commander has said.

Here's What We Know

Estonia, which has a long border with Russia, "could resist an invasion for several weeks". This was reported by Colonel Mati Tikerpuu, the head of one of Estonia's two army brigades, to El País. According to him, this will be enough until allied reinforcements arrive.

Estonia, with a population of only 1.4 million, plans to spend more than 3% of GDP on defence in 2024. This is much higher than the contributions of most NATO countries, especially against the backdrop of deteriorating relations with Russia. In terms of GDP, Estonia has also provided more military assistance to Ukraine than any other country.

At the same time, American, British and French troops are often present at the training base from which Tikerpuu spoke, about 10 miles from the Russian border. This is indicative of NATO's increased activity in the region.

Source: El País