Terras says Herem wants to reshape Estonia’s defence plan

Estonian Defence Minister Martin Herem wants to revise the country’s ten-year defence development plan, with a focus on air and maritime capabilities, ERR reported. He will present his views to the National Defence Council next week.

The plan was completed in the spring, but Herem says developments in the war in Ukraine since then mean it needs to be reviewed.

Meelis Kiili, a member of parliament’s National Defence Committee and a retired general, said the plan should have reflected events in Ukraine. He also questioned the planning process, saying it was concerning if plans had such a short lifespan.

Committee members have not opposed acquiring additional capabilities such as light fighter aircraft. Leo Kunnas, another committee member, said defence spending of five percent of GDP could build a wartime defence force of a different quality than spending two or three percent. He said Estonia should consider what capabilities it needs by 2050.

Former Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said he had discussed light fighter aircraft and ships with the heads of the air force and navy. The main question, he said, was whether the acquisitions were affordable. Funding would have to come from somewhere, such as reducing long-range fire capabilities for the army or buying fewer ships.

Former commander of the Defence Forces Riho Terras said Herem wanted to shape the plan around his own priorities. Given a minister’s short time in office, Terras said, influencing long-term plans was a way to leave a mark.

The commander of the Defence Forces, whose military advice underpins the plan, was abroad and could not give his views to ERR’s Aktuaalne kaamera news programme.