Estonia asks NATO for anti-Russia command center in Baltics

Country to drastically strengthen military capacity: defense minister

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Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet: "We can never rule out the chance that Russia might attack neighboring countries."

RINTARO HOSOKAWA, Nikkei staff writer

TALLINN -- Estonia has asked NATO for command centers capable of overseeing more than 10,000 troops and the bloc's military operations in the Baltics to counter Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet said in an exclusive interview with Nikkei. 

"We are explaining right now to our allies that all three Baltic countries need a division-size command structure and also rapid deployment," the minister said. "For example, [Estonia has] two brigades of our own troops, and we need an extra brigade from NATO allies who can be deployed rapidly to Estonia if something happens. That's the change of posture."

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