In 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Estonia swiftly increased its defense spending and strengthened its cybersecurity infrastructure as part of its comprehensive response to the growing regional security threat. As a former Soviet republic sharing a border with Russia, Estonia viewed the invasion as a direct challenge to European stability and its own security. In response, the Estonian government committed to bolstering its military capabilities, allocating a significant increase in its defense budget, and enhancing its readiness for potential threats.
Estonia also reaffirmed its strong ties with NATO, emphasizing its role as a committed ally within the organization. The country actively supported Ukraine by providing military aid and humanitarian assistance while advocating for a strong and united European response to Russian aggression. Estonia’s response reflected its deep historical concerns about Russian expansionism and its commitment to collective defense under NATO’s Article 5, which guarantees that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
History of Estonia
References
- Jones, Prudence; Pennick, Nigel (1995). A history of pagan Europe. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-09136-5.
- Lieven, Anatol. The Baltic Revolution: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Path to Independence (Yale University Press, 1993)
- Mäesalu, Ain; Lukas, Tonis; Laur, Mati; Tannberg, Tonu; Pajur, Ago (2004). History of Estonia. Tallinn, Estonia: Avita. ISBN 9985-2-0606-1.
- Made, Tiit; 'Estonians Liberation Way' (20 August Club, Tallinn, 2015)
- O'Connor; Kevin The History of the Baltic States (Greenwood Press, 2003) online edition Archived 28 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- Palmer, Alan. The Baltic: A new history of the region and its people (New York: Overlook Press, 2006); published In London with the title Northern shores: a history of the Baltic Sea and its peoples (John Murray, 2006).
- Parming, Toenu. The Collapse of Liberal Democracy and the Rise of Authoritarianism in Estonia (SAGE, 1975)
- Rauch, Georg von. The Baltic States: The Years of Independence. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 1917-1940 (University of California Press, 1974)
- Raun, Toivo U. Estonia and the Estonians, 2nd ed. (Hoover Institution Press, 2002), long the standard work
- Raun, Toivo U. 'The Estonians' in Edward C. Thaden, ed., Russification in the Baltic Provinces & Finland, 1855-1914 (1981), pp 287-354.
- Ruutsoo, Rein. 'The Cultural Profile of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Between the Two World Wars,' Acta Bibliothecae Nationalis Estoniae (2004), Vol. 10, pp. 13-59. Compares national culture, state formation, civil society, and elite social groups in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
- Smith, David James; Pabriks, Artis; Purs, Aldis; Lane, Thomas (2002). The Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. London: Routledge. p. 24. ISBN 0-415-28580-1.
- Subrenat, Jean-Jacques (2004). Estonia: identity and independence. Rodopi. ISBN 90-420-0890-3. online edition
- Taagepera, Rein. Estonia: Return to Independence (Westview Press, 1993) online edition Archived 7 January 2005 at the Wayback Machine