ESTONIA'S DEFENSES UNDERGO SIGNIFICANT BOOST AMID RISING THREATS
Estonia is ramping up its national security efforts, investing close to €200 million to fortify its electric grid and improve military capabilities as regional tensions escalate.
State-owned grid distributor Elering announced the substantial investment, which will include deploying drone countermeasures at key electricity sites to protect against attacks. Elering’s CEO Kalle Kilk emphasized the importance of these measures, stating, "The funding focuses primarily on measures which help prevent various types of attacks." This investment is part of larger collaborative efforts with Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, aiming to secure their energy infrastructures with total project costs amounting to approximately €600 million.
The funding is ideally sought from the European Commission's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), but Kilk warned, "Securing CEF funding is not guaranteed. We have many competing interests for such funding." If the funding falls through, Elering plans to cover costs through its own grid fees, with focus on strengthening physical security across substations and ensuring the infrastructure is monitored.
Part of the initiative involves enhancing surveillance on high-voltage lines connecting Estonia to Latvia, which Kilk states is pivotal for the country's energy security, highlighting the repercussions of potential disconnection. “If Estonia were to be cut off from the lines to Latvia, it would be very difficult,” he noted. By fencing and monitoring substations, the aim is to prevent unauthorized access and disruptions to power supply.
Meanwhile, Estonia's military defenses are also receiving urgent attention as the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) prepares for the arrival of new weapon systems this summer. Included are the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and IRIS-T air defense systems, enhancing the EDF’s capabilities. Unfortunately, experts warn these initiatives do not adequately address existing capability gaps. Deputy chair of the National Defense Committee, Colonel Leo Kunnas, expressed concerns over insufficient artillery support, stating, "We have too few howitzers. The minimum should be 72 weapon systems." He argues this is necessary for effective military response as demonstrated by recent developments from the Ukraine conflict.
Citing lessons learned from recent hybrid threats, Colonel Hannes Toomsalu stressed the lack of sufficient naval assets, saying, "We don’t have the kind of ships to patrol effectively," which is underscored by the recent damage inflicted on the Estlink 2 subsea cable. Observing drone activity over Estonia's airspace, Toomsalu raised alarms about the regional security environment's volatility.
"The Gulf of Finland is active with potential threats, and we must understand the challenges at hand," Toomsalu remarked. He encourages the development of local defense production capabilities, similar to Ukraine's defense industry, which can swiftly address the current military gaps faced by the EDF.
Despite these initiatives, there remains widespread apprehension about the adequacy of Estonia's current defensive posture. The incidents involving subsea cable damages and recent hybrid assaults have amplified concerns about the robustness of national defenses. Experts urge for not only rapid procurement of new military hardware but also comprehensive strategies focusing on sustaining and developing local capabilities to counter future threats effectively.
Kilk’s outlook on Elering’s capital investment encapsulates the urgency with which Estonia is approaching its defense, as physical security measures are being prioritized along with technological advancements to adapt to the changing geopolitical climate.
With these strategies, Estonia is striving to maintain its sovereignty and protect its infrastructure amid heightened regional tensions. The collaboration with Baltic states and reliance on EU support may pave the way toward a more integrated and secure regional defense framework.