Estonia joined NATO in 2004. NATO is a military-political alliance consisting of 32 countries. Its main objective is to ensure the security of its member states and the functioning of collective defence.
NATO relies on the capabilities of its member states. Developing and maintaining military capabilities is expensive, and few countries can independently provide all the necessary capabilities. Therefore, NATO member states focus on their specific strengths while other countries provide the remaining capabilities when needed. For example, in military conflicts NATO forms a joint military force from the resources of its member states, ready to serve under NATO command. The costs of developing and utilising these capabilities are borne by the owning country.
Estonian NATO policy principles
Estonian NATO policy principles
Estonia is a full member of NATO, with all the rights and obligations arising from membership. In shaping its NATO-related policy, the Ministry of Defence follows the following principles::
- NATO as a whole must be strong. This means that NATO's capabilities must be sufficient to ensure deterrence against any aggressor.
- NATO capability development must take into account both collective defence needs on NATO's own territory and the needs for ongoing and future operations outside NATO's territory. Developed capabilities must be usable in both cases.
- Estonia's military contribution to NATO capability planning is based on the primary need for independent defence capability and the requirements of NATO collective defence.
- NATO capability development must be prominent and credible. NATO's presence must be visible across the entire alliance territory.
NATO internal cooperation and joint capability development
At the end of 2014, following the conclusion of the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, NATO shifted its focus from participation in operations to maintaining its interoperability capabilities.
NATO's readiness will be ensured based on the strategic concept agreed upon in 2022. This resulted in "NATO Forces 2020," which refers to modern and interoperable forces equipped with proper equipment, training, and command structures. Through the Connected Forces Initiative, NATO ensures that its forces are in the best possible readiness by expanding military training, exercises, and better use of technology. One part of this initiative involves the development of NATO's Response Forces.
NATO Response Forces (NRF)
NATO's Response Forces are ready to enter conflict zones within a 15,000 km radius of Brussels within 5–30 days and conduct various operations. It is important to note that NATO's Response Forces are not a permanent unit but a package of capabilities in a state of readiness, from which a unit is formed according to the task.
Estonia has participated in NATO Response Forces since 2005. In 2010, Estonia contributed a company-sized component of its army within the Baltic Joint Battalion to the NRF, and this will also be done in 2016.
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Increased dependence on technology means that cyber defence is an integral part of security in the 21st century.
NATO is making progress in combating cyberattacks aimed at its networks and those of its allies. Both the NATO Strategic Concept and the 2012 Chicago Summit Declaration emphasise the importance of cyber defence in securing NATO's information and communication systems. Cooperation is constant and ongoing within the alliance and with partners, as well as with industry and the scientific community. Estonia is at the forefront in the cyber field, evidenced by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, opened in Tallinn in 2008, which hosts experts from 39 allied and partner countries.
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To ensure continuous security in the alliance's airspace and as a demonstration of solidarity, allied air forces support those countries lacking air policing capabilities.
Since Estonia's accession to NATO in 2004, air policing of the three Baltic states has been carried out. Aircraft securing the Baltic airspace are stationed at the Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, with an additional base in Ämari, Estonia. Similarly, other countries provide air policing in Luxembourg (carried out by Belgium) and in Slovenia and Albania (carried out by Italy).
The creation of a joint surveillance system demonstrates how member states create a highly expensive capability that would be beyond the reach of an individual ally.
The need for a surveillance system is substantial: it is required both to enhance NATO's overall military capabilities and for operations outside NATO territory. The establishment of a joint surveillance system strengthens the alliance as a whole.
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The NATO Strategic Airlift Initiative gives allied countries the opportunity to use strategic airlift capabilities. Creating a strategic airlift capability is beyond the capacity of most individual member states.
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NATO's command structure mainly consists of two elements:
- Representations of member and partner states.
- NATO personnel, including the central structure and NATO's headquarters and commands.
The principle of consensus applies at all levels of command within NATO. This means that no decision can be made until all member states agree. As a result, NATO is unique in that even small allies can make their voices heard and actively participate in shaping the alliance's long-term and daily policies.
Representations of countries at NATO shape the alliance's policies and formulate decisions, which are implemented by NATO's staff according to political directives.
The highest authority in NATO is the North Atlantic Council, which includes representatives
from all member states. The Council formulates NATO's policies and guides the actions of the entire alliance. The Council meets regularly at the ambassadorial level, less frequently at the heads of state level, and generally three times a year at the defence minister level.
The NATO Military Committee consists of the heads of defence of member states. The committee provides the North Atlantic Council with the necessary military advice and ensures the implementation of its decisions at the military level.
NATO Headquarter
- In 1951, the higher NATO headquarters for European forces was opened near Paris, in Rocquencourt.
- In 1959, NATO's new headquarters opened in Porte Dauphine, Paris.
- In 1967, after France's withdrawal from NATO's military structure, the headquarters was moved to Brussels, where it remains today.
- In 2018, NATO headquarters moved to a new building in Brussels.
- Various NATO staff and units are located across member countries.
NATO Foundation
In 1949, 12 countries signed the North Atlantic (Washington) Treaty, establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): Belgium, the Netherlands, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, France, Denmark, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Expansion
NATO has expanded through eight rounds of enlargement to a 32-member alliance:
- In 1952, Greece and Turkey joined.
- In 1955, Germany became NATO's 15th member. In response, the Warsaw Pact was created.
- In 1982, Spain joined.
- In 1999, the first three Central and Eastern European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland) joined.
- In 2004, seven more countries joined: Estonia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
- In 2009, Albania and Croatia joined.
- In 2017, Montenegro joined.
- In 2020, North Macedonia joined.
- In 2023, Finland joined.
- In 2023, Sweden joined.
Väljaastumised
NATO has not always been on an expansion course. In 1966, France withdrew from NATO's military structure but remained an active member of NATO's political organisation. France rejoined the alliance in 2009 during the anniversary summit. In 1974, Greece temporarily suspended its membership in NATO's military structure for six years, in protest of NATO's failure to prevent Turkey's invasion of Cyprus. However, NATO's unity is shown by the fact that no country has ever used the option to withdraw from the alliance, as mentioned in the founding treaty.
Partnerships
- In 1997, the foundational act for NATO-Russia relations was signed, leading to the creation of the NATO-Russia Council in 2002.
- In 1997, the NATO-Ukraine Commission was established.
- In 2008, the NATO-Georgia Commission was created.
NATO has strong ties with many countries that share similar values globally, through initiatives like the Mediterranean Dialogue or the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. NATO also has close partnerships with Australia and Japan.
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Last updated: 08.04.2026
