India, Estonia Join Forces to Boost Defence Ties, Counter Russian Threat

India and Estonia are working on their first-ever agreement to strengthen defence ties through technology partnerships, industrial collaboration, and joint research and development. The deal aims to co-develop and co-produce defence systems, including air defence, artillery, and ammunition, with India emerging as a potential supplier of military equipment to the tiny Baltic nation. Estonia, a key NATO ally, is increasing its defence spending in response to the Russian threat, which has risen from 2% to over 5% of its GDP. The country's permanent secretary, Kaimo Kuusk, said India is among the countries they are considering for cost-effective solutions to military capabilities, citing the need to counter Russia's approach to mass warfare and drone fighting. Both India and Estonia have learned valuable lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, including the impact of drones and electronic warfare on the battlefield and the importance of layered air defence and precision targeting. India's ambassador to Estonia, Ashish Sinha, said the two countries are discussing a draft memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, which will likely encompass areas such as co-production, technology transfer, and joint research and development. Estonia has also identified India as a potential supplier of military equipment, including air defence systems, artillery, and ammunition. However, the country's top priority is to develop its local industry to meet military needs. The agreement is expected to be a significant step in strengthening defence ties between the two countries, which already have agreements in place for cooperation in areas such as cyber security, e-governance, and trade.