Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TALLINN114
2009-04-27 14:44:00
SECRET
Embassy Tallinn
Cable title:
ESTONIA'S PESSIMISTIC APPROACH TO RUSSIA
how-toVZCZCXRO9924 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV DE RUEHTL #0114/01 1171444 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 271444Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1119 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2656
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TALLINN 000114
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/NB MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ
E.O. 12958 DECL: 04/27/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA'S PESSIMISTIC APPROACH TO RUSSIA
Classified by: CDA Karen Decker for reasons 1.4 ...
XXXXXXXXXXXX
HOMELAND DEFENSE: JUST A LITTLE BIT PARANOID
10. (C) While Estonia works to temper its political
TALLINN 00000114 003 OF 003
stance on Russia, its defensive posture emphasizes
internal defensive capabilities, based on an almost-
paranoid perception of an imminent Russian attack. The
GOE's new ten-year Defense Development Plan (DDP) for
2009-2018, published in January, was finalized after
Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia (ref C). While the DDP
is consistent with NATO collective defense priorities, it
also clearly reflects defense planners' intent to expand
development of territorial and initial defense
capabilities. The DDP calls for Estonia to invest in
improvements to early warning assets, air defense, anti-
tank, and armored maneuver capabilities to discourage
aggression and to improve capabilities to support Article
V contingency operations. The DDP retains conscription,
expands the size of both the active duty and reserve
forces and significantly increases the quantity and
quality of reserve training.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/NB MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ
E.O. 12958 DECL: 04/27/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA'S PESSIMISTIC APPROACH TO RUSSIA
Classified by: CDA Karen Decker for reasons 1.4 ...
XXXXXXXXXXXX
HOMELAND DEFENSE: JUST A LITTLE BIT PARANOID
10. (C) While Estonia works to temper its political
TALLINN 00000114 003 OF 003
stance on Russia, its defensive posture emphasizes
internal defensive capabilities, based on an almost-
paranoid perception of an imminent Russian attack. The
GOE's new ten-year Defense Development Plan (DDP) for
2009-2018, published in January, was finalized after
Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia (ref C). While the DDP
is consistent with NATO collective defense priorities, it
also clearly reflects defense planners' intent to expand
development of territorial and initial defense
capabilities. The DDP calls for Estonia to invest in
improvements to early warning assets, air defense, anti-
tank, and armored maneuver capabilities to discourage
aggression and to improve capabilities to support Article
V contingency operations. The DDP retains conscription,
expands the size of both the active duty and reserve
forces and significantly increases the quantity and
quality of reserve training.
XXXXXXXXXXXX