Estonia does not rule out the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons on its territory as part of NATO's collective defense strategy.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakna made this statement during an interview with ERR. The minister emphasized that Europe should not reject NATO's supranational nuclear deterrence system in the face of evolving security threats.
"We are not against the deployment of nuclear weapons on our territory. If NATO considers it necessary to station nuclear weapons on our soil in accordance with our defense plans, we have no doctrine that would exclude this," Tsakna stated.
The Foreign Minister's remarks come at a time of heightened regional tension. On February 15, Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki also warned in an interview that his country stands "on the brink of armed conflict," highlighting the growing concerns among Baltic and Eastern European nations regarding security in the region.
Estonia, a member of NATO since 2004, has consistently advocated for a robust Alliance presence on its eastern flank. While the deployment of nuclear weapons is governed by the Alliance's Nuclear Planning Group, the willingness of frontline states to host such assets marks a significant shift in the regional security discourse. This development follows broader discussions within the Alliance regarding the modernization of its nuclear sharing arrangements and the strengthening of conventional and strategic deterrence in Europe.
