Estonia in NATO operations explained

Since Estonia joined NATO in 2004, Estonia has participated in many joint military operations using its Estonian Defence Forces.^[1] Estonia has also participated in NATO-led military and peacekeeping operations before 2004.

1990-1999

• Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995-2004)
  • Implementation Force (1995-1996), 1 year joint military peacekeeping enforcement led by NATO during the Bosnian War in the Yugoslav Wars.
  • Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995-2004), Joint military peacekeeping mission led by NATO after the Bosnian War.^[2]
• BALTOPS (1990s-present), Annual military exercise since the 1980's in the Baltic Sea, Estonia has participated in the exercises since the 1990s.^[3]

2000-2009

• Iraq
  • Estonian Iraqi Contingent (2003-2008), Joint military force of the Estonian Defence Forces deployed in Iraq during the Iraq War mostly in the Baghdad Governorate in the Sab-al-Bori area^[4]
  • NATO Training Mission - Iraq (2004–present)
• Afghanistan (2003-2008)
  • Estonian Afghanistan Contingent (2003-2008), Joint military force of the Estonian Defence Forces deployed in Afghanistan during the War In Afghanistan. The units are under the allegiance of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
• Kosovo (2003-present)
  • Estonian Kosovo Contingent (Alternatively 'Kosovo Contingent')(2003–present), joint military force of the Estonian Defence Forces deployed in Kosovo during Operation Joint Interprise (Commonly "Kosovo Force")
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (2005-2007)
  • ESTGUARD 1-3 (2005-2007), Estonian soldiers were stationed near Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina at Camp Eagle.^[5]
• Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (2008–present), international mission to enhance cyber defence in NATO, which is headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia.^[6]

2010-2019

• Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (2008–present)
  • Locked Shields (2010-present), annual cyber defence exercise between 1-30 April in Tallinn, Estonia.^[7]
• Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge (2013-present), annual military exercise in Estonia. Common participants are NATO nations.^{[8] [9]}
• Operation Atlantic Resolve (2014-2018), military exercise conducted in response to the War in Donbas throughout Central and Eastern Europe.^[10]
• Afghanistan (2015-2021)
  • Resolute Support Mission (2015-2021), 45 troops from the Estonian Defense Forces were sent to Afghanistan and were withdrawn in 2021.^[11]
• NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) (2016–present), a constant military force in 8 European countries. There is ~2000 troops from different NATO countries in Tapa, Estonia.^{[12] [13]}
• Sahel region of Africa (2018-2022)
  • Operation Barkhane (2018–2022^[14]), anti-insurgent operation led by France against Islamic extremism, Estonia has provided ~90 soldiers of mechanized and Special forces units.^[15]

2020-present

• NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) (2016–present)
  • Spring Storm (May 2021), a large-scale exercise containing ~14,000 troops from eFP-participating countries in Estonia from 11 May to 31 May.
• Ramstein Alloy (2021), a series of exercises in the Baltic States which simulates Article 5 scenarios and cooperation with Finland and Sweden.
• Wisent (2021–2022), a Polish-Estonian joint operation.
  • Wisent 1 (December 2021), Estonian military unit, with around 70 troops, arrived in Poland, the unit and the 18th Infantry Division of Poland helped clean up and block/defend the border area due to the Belarusian border crisis.^{[16] [17]}
  • Wisent 2, fortifications and defenses were constructed along the border with Belarus.
  • Wisent 3 (February 2022), The joint operation had continued with 60 troops which built barriers on the border, and built around 40 km (~25 mi) of border protection due to de-escalation of tensions in Ukraine.^[18]
  • Wisent 4 (April 2022), The Estonian and Polish troops concluded deployment with ceremony for Katyn victims.^[19]
  • Wisent 5 (April 2022), The joint-operative troops made 4 bridges, and the Polish guard started to patrol the border, and the group have improved road infrastructure along around 10km (~6 mi) of the road.^[20]
• Operation Inherent Resolve (2023-present), a military operation in Iraq and Syria led by the United States/NATO since 2014. Estonia has participated since 2023.^[21]
• Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (2008–present)
  • Cyber Coalition (2023), cyber defence exercise in Tallinn, Estonia with 28 participating NATO countries and 7 non-NATO countries.^[22]

References

1. Web site: SHAPE Estonia . NATO.
2. Web site: Operations abroad . 2022-05-05 . Estonian Defence Forces . en-US.
3. Web site: Carrier Strike Group 12 Prepares for BALTOPS 2008 . NNS080602-20 . Carrier Strike Group 12 Public Affairs . 2 June 2008 . 6 June 2012.
4. Web site: Rahvusvaheline kaitsealane koostöö . https://web.archive.org/web/20090426181901/http://www.mod.gov.ee/?op=body&id=9 . 26 April 2009 . et.
5. Web site: 2005-12-08 . ESTGUARD-1 lendab Bosnia-Hertsegoviina Vabariiki . 2023-08-29 . Kaitsevägi . et.
6. Web site: Pihlak . Harle . 2018-10-16 . NATO CCDCOE - Expertise and cooperation make our cyber space safer . 2023-05-24 . e-Estonia . en.
7. https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2021/3/pdf/2103-factsheet_exercises.pdf Key NATO and Allied exercises in 2021
8. Web site: 2015-08-11 . NATO allies unite for Pitka Challenge 2015 . 2023-12-12 . Estonian World . en-GB.
9. Web site: ERR . 2013-03-26 . Erna Raid Renamed After Admiral Pitka . 2023-12-12 . ERR . en.
10. https://www.eur.army.mil/AtlanticResolve/ Atlantic Resolve builds readiness, increases interoperability and enhances the bonds between ally and partner militaries with multinational training events in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.
11. Web site: ERR . ERR, ERR News . 2021-06-02 . Gallery: Kabul ceremony marks end of Estonia's 18-year Afghanistan presence . 2023-05-24 . ERR . en.
12. Web site: NATO's Forward Presence . NATO.
13. Web site: 2017-06-19 . NATO war game defends Baltic weak spot for first time . 2023-05-24 . www.euractiv.com . en-GB.
14. Web site: France, European allies announce military withdrawal from Mali . 2023-05-23 . www.aljazeera.com . en.
15. Web site: Kelly . Fergus . 2019-11-08 . Estonia parliament approves Mali troop increase for Operation Barkhane . 2023-05-23 . The Defense Post . en-US.
16. Web site: ERR . Ester Vilgats . 2022-01-15 . Kaitseliitlaste üksus Lääne-Eestist suundus Poola . 2022-05-04 . ERR . et.
17. Web site: ERR . Ester Vilgats, Pärnu . 2022-02-11 . Poola piirile läheb juba kolmas Eesti sõjaväelaste üksus . 2022-05-04 . ERR . et.
18. Web site: Estonian Defence Forces’ new task force Wisent 3 started operating in Poland . 2022-05-04 . Estonian Defence Forces . en-US.
19. Web site: Estonian task force unit in Poland concludes deployment with ceremony for Katyn victims . 2022-05-04 . baltictimes.com.
20. Web site: Estonia's Wisent task force builds 4 bridges for border protection in Poland . 2022-05-04 . www.baltictimes.com.
21. Web site: ERR . 2023-05-01 . EDF unit takes over Operation Inherent Resolve duties in Iraq . 2023-11-13 . ERR . en.
22. Web site: NATO . NATO’s flagship cyber exercise concludes in Estonia . 2023-12-12 . NATO . en.