Estonian committee probes 200 million euro Turkish armoured vehicle deal

Estonia’s parliamentary anti-corruption committee is investigating why the Defence Investment Centre bought wheeled armoured vehicles from Turkey, ERR reports. Experts have questioned the impact on cooperation with neighbouring countries and the vehicles’ maintenance, while Defence Minister Martin Herem says price and delivery speed drove the decision.

Estonia ordered 230 armoured vehicles from Turkish companies Otokar and Nurol Makina for 200 million euros a couple of years ago. The full order has now been delivered.

A report by the Riigikogu’s National Defence Committee says the purchase sacrificed strategic cooperation with neighbouring countries and left Estonia’s military equipment incompatible with theirs in wartime. The anti-corruption committee is seeking answers from the Defence Ministry and the State Defence Investment Centre, which handled the procurement.

Retired general Meelis Kiili, a member of the National Defence Committee, questioned why Estonia left the ecosystem of nearby strategic partners for one that is geographically distant and offers fewer shared opportunities. Herem said that buying the same vehicles used by Estonia’s 1st Brigade would have cost more and meant that the 2nd Brigade’s battalions would not yet be equipped. He said the Turkish vehicles were the fastest to deliver and that their quality was no worse than that of other equipment.

Kaimo Kuusk, a former secretary general of the Defence Ministry, said maintenance capacity should also have been a key procurement criterion. Kiili said the deal could send much of the economic benefit abroad and leave Estonia’s defence industry opportunities unused. He added that long-term support would require stockpiles and production facilities in Estonia.

Herem said there have been no problems with spare-parts deliveries so far and that the ministry is seeking a company to provide maintenance in Estonia. He said the armed forces needed to prepare their wartime units for a possible conflict as quickly as possible, rather than wait several years for a domestic alternative.