September 18 () –
Estonian authorities have opened a new military base near the town of Voru, close to the Russian border, to boost the country’s defence capabilities and accommodate NATO allies as the threat from Russia grows over its invasion of Ukraine.
In what has been described by the Estonian Foreign Ministry as a “key step for defence and security in the region”, the measure has cost around 21 million euros and will allow for the permanent or temporary housing of 1,000 people, according to a statement.
The aim is to “carry out military manoeuvres in peacetime” and also to provide the Alliance with a base in crisis situations. Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur has said that it is a “conservative, no-frills” infrastructure, a measure adopted in an attempt to spend as little taxpayer money as possible.
The Russian government, which blames the invasion of Ukraine on NATO’s expansion into its territory, has repeatedly lashed out at the buildup of allied forces near its land borders, as well as the increase in military spending within the bloc, which it accuses of being involved in the war.
Add Comment