Estonia in NATO operations

Since Estonia joined NATO in 2004, Estonia has participated in many joint military operations using its Estonian Defence Forces. Estonia has also participated in NATO-led military and peacekeeping operations before 2004.

Estonian Ambassador to NATO Kyllike Sillaste-Elling and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shaking hands

1990-1999

• Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995-2004)
  • Implementation Force (1995-1996), 1 year joint military peacekeeping enforcement led by NATO during the Bosnian War in the Yugoslav Wars.
  • Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995-2004), Joint military peacekeeping mission led by NATO after the Bosnian War.
• BALTOPS (1990s-present), Annual military exercise since the 1980's in the Baltic Sea, Estonia has participated in the exercises since the 1990s.

2000-2009

Estonian soldiers walking in Iraq armed with IMI Galil rifles (2005)

• 

  Estonian Troops in Afghanistan clearing IEDs

  Iraq
  • Estonian Iraqi Contingent (2003-2008), Joint military force of the Estonian Defence Forces deployed in Iraq during the Iraq War mostly in the Baghdad Governorate in the Sab-al-Bori area
  • NATO Training Mission - Iraq (2004–present)
• Afghanistan (2003-2008)
  • Estonian Afghanistan Contingent (2003-2008), Joint military force of the Estonian Defence Forces deployed in Afghanistan during the War In Afghanistan. The units are under the allegiance of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
• Kosovo (2003-present)
  • Estonian Kosovo Contingent (Alternatively 'Kosovo Contingent')(2003–present), joint military force of the Estonian Defence Forces deployed in Kosovo during Operation Joint Interprise (Commonly "Kosovo Force")
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (2005-2007)
  • ESTGUARD 1-3 (2005-2007), Estonian soldiers were stationed near Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina at Camp Eagle.
• Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (2008–present), international mission to enhance cyber defence in NATO, which is headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia.

2010-2019

Photo of the Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge in 2022

British troops exercise in Estonia as part of NATOs eFP program

• Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (2008–present)
  • Locked Shields (2010-present), annual cyber defence exercise between 1-30 April in Tallinn, Estonia.
• Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge (2013-present), annual military exercise in Estonia. Common participants are NATO nations.

• Operation Atlantic Resolve (2014-2018), military exercise conducted in response to the War in Donbas throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
• Afghanistan (2015-2021)
  • Resolute Support Mission (2015-2021), 45 troops from the Estonian Defense Forces were sent to Afghanistan and were withdrawn in 2021.
• NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) (2016–present), a constant military force in 8 European countries. There is ~2000 troops from different NATO countries in Tapa, Estonia.
• Sahel region of Africa (2018-2022)
  • Operation Barkhane (2018–2022), anti-insurgent operation led by France against Islamic extremism, Estonia has provided ~90 soldiers of mechanized and Special forces units.

2020-present

Members of the Wisent Task force 2 setting up barbed wire fences

• NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) (2016–present)
  • Spring Storm (May 2021), a large-scale exercise containing ~14,000 troops from eFP-participating countries in Estonia from 11 May to 31 May.
• Ramstein Alloy (2021), a series of exercises in the Baltic States which simulates Article 5 scenarios and cooperation with Finland and Sweden.

• Wisent (2021–2022), a Polish-Estonian joint operation.
  • Wisent 1 (December 2021), Estonian military unit, with around 70 troops, arrived in Poland, the unit and the 18th Infantry Division of Poland helped clean up and block/defend the border area due to the Belarusian border crisis.
  • Wisent 2, fortifications and defenses were constructed along the border with Belarus.
  • Wisent 3 (February 2022), The joint operation had continued with 60 troops which built barriers on the border, and built around 40 km (~25 mi) of border protection due to de-escalation of tensions in Ukraine.
  • Wisent 4 (April 2022), The Estonian and Polish troops concluded deployment with ceremony for Katyn victims.
  • Wisent 5 (April 2022), The joint-operative troops made 4 bridges, and the Polish guard started to patrol the border, and the group have improved road infrastructure along around 10km (~6 mi) of the road.
• Operation Inherent Resolve (2023-present), a military operation in Iraq and Syria led by the United States/NATO since 2014. Estonia has participated since 2023.
• Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (2008–present)
  • Cyber Coalition (2023), cyber defence exercise in Tallinn, Estonia with 28 participating NATO countries and 7 non-NATO countries.
• Pikne (December 2024), a 2-week long military exercise with multiple participating countries. The exercise is part of NATO's Vigilance Activity Brilliant Eagle, practicing a rapid deployment of Estonian and allied forces to a conflict zone.