US gives Estonia 13 reconnaissance drones to boost border security

The United States has provided Estonia with 13 Skydio X10D drones to help the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) monitor hard-to-reach areas along the country's borders, according to ERR News Estonia.

Estonia is also taking steps to bolster its military presence near the Russian border. The country's 1st Infantry Brigade, its main combat-ready element, will be relocating from Tapa to Jõhvi, a town less than 50 kilometers from the Russian border, where new facilities are being constructed. This move is part of a shift in strategic thinking for the Estonian military, which relies on NATO forces and the deterrent of Article 5 to protect against an attack.

Estonian military officials do not expect a full-scale war with Russia, but they believe Russia is preparing for possible future conflict. The country has introduced the concept of "active defense" to its National Security Concept and is investing in long-range weapons capable of striking targets deep inside Russian territory. Estonia has increased its military spending by 42% this year to €2.4 billion, or 5.4% of GDP, according to Investing.com.

Brief written by urgent.news from ERR News Estonia, New Voice of Ukraine, Kyiv Independent, Investing.com — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.