Estonia is increasing its military presence near the Russian border and expanding its ability to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. Tallinn is preparing for potential Russian provocations as part of its new “active defense” strategy, the Financial Times reports.
One of the key steps has been the expansion and modernization of the military base in Jõhvi, about 50 kilometers from the Russian border. The headquarters of Estonia’s 1st Infantry Brigade has been relocated there from the country’s main military base in Tapa, roughly 150 kilometers from Russia.
At the same time, a new military base is being built in the border city of Narva, with capacity for 1,000 troops. Around 200 soldiers are expected to be permanently stationed there, while the facility will be able to accommodate another 800 in the event of a crisis.
Estonian military officials do not expect Russia to attempt to seize Narva, but they do not rule out provocations aimed at testing NATO’s readiness and the Alliance’s collective defense mechanism.
Tallinn is also strengthening its long-range strike capabilities. In 2025, Estonia signed contracts for nine U.S.-made HIMARS systems and nine South Korean Chunmoo multiple-launch rocket systems. Munitions for these systems can strike targets at ranges of up to 300 kilometers.
According to assessments by Estonia’s military and intelligence services, Moscow is currently not prepared for a full-scale war with NATO, at least for the next few years. Estonia, however, wants to make any potential aggression as risky as possible for the Kremlin.
“Our goal is clear — to keep the enemy and the destruction of war as far away from Estonian territory as possible,” Estonia’s Defense Ministry said.
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