Agile Task Force News Today

An agreement has been struck in principle which will see the United States contribute additional, rotating military units for the defense of Estonia, and consequently NATO's Eastern Flank, Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur (Reform) said.

Estonia is working to extend the presence of British troops in Estonia Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur (Reform) says, following reports the number of boots on the ground would be roughly halved by year end.

Hundreds of British military personnel currently based in Estonia are to be home by Christmas, UK daily The Times reports, roughly halving Britain's military presence in the region. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that an additional battlegroup sent to Estonia earlier in the year was always intended to be temporary, at least so far as the deployment on the ground goes.

A British Army regiment serving in Estonia saw its six-month tour culminate in a large-scale, force-on-force exercise, involving over NATO 800 personnel and spanning four days.

Flights organized within the framework of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission regularly fly far beyond Estonia's borders, and are engaged in sorties along NATO's eastern flank, far into central Europe.

The 2 Rifles Battlegroup has been deployed to Estonia for a six-month tour of duty as part of efforts to support European security.