defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Estonian defence minister sign agreement new DATE 12072023 CREDIT MOD Twitter.jpg — The signing formalises the defence commitments both countries have made since the 2022 Nato summit in Madrid (Picture: MOD Twitter).

Politics

UK and Estonia sign joint agreement to foster closer military co-operation

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and the Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur have signed a joint statement, which will see both country's militaries work closer together.

The UK's Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed the agreement will see the development of an Estonian military Division, with several British staff officers embedded within the new formation.

Both nations say the new commitment will mean they are "better able to deter aggression and to defend Estonia in crisis and conflict".

"Following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, and to support Nato's new era of collective defence, Estonia and the UK continue to work together to strengthen Nato's deterrence and forward defences in Estonia," the joint statement said.

Watch: The eFP battlegroup tests ability to move heavy armoured vehicles across Estonia.

It also went on to say that the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup already based in Estonia will be further reinforced by a brigade-size force, held in high readiness in the UK, and that the unit "will regularly exercise" for the reinforcement of Estonia in accordance with Nato's defence plans.