# Russian threat to Baltic security rising – Estonian intelligence report Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-02-08 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Estonia's Security Risk Amid Russia's Military Pressure Meta Description: Get insights on Russia's increasing military pressure on the Baltic states, boosting defence spending and strategic analysis by Estonia's Foreign URL: https://financedigest.com/russian-threat-to-baltic-security-rising-estonian-intelligence-reporthtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-02-08t125407z1lynxmpej170l4rtroptp3ukraine-crisis-russia-border-1736814473680-compressed.jpg) By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) – Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service said it believed Russia still had the strength to exert “credible military pressure” on the Baltic region, where the security risk has risen for the medium and long-term. NATO and the European Union members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – the so-called Baltic states – have sharply boosted defence spending in response to Russia’s 2014 capture of Crimea from Ukraine and the invasion of Ukraine last year. A military attack against Estonia is unlikely in 2023″ due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but “in the mid-to-long term, Russia’s belligerence and foreign policy ambitions have significantly increased the [security risks](https://www.financedigest.com/tesla-to-warn-of-data-privacy-risk-from-car-security-cameras-in-germany.html "Tesla to warn of data privacy risk from car security cameras in Germany") for Estonia,” the Estonian service said in its annual report on Wednesday. [“Russia considers the Baltic states](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-considers-more-funds-for-eastern-states-in-bid-for-deal-on-russia-oil-ban.html "EU considers more funds for eastern states in bid for deal on Russia oil ban") to be the most vulnerable part of NATO, which would make them a focus of military pressure in the event of a NATO-Russia conflict. [Russia’s military presence](https://www.financedigest.com/ecb-unicredit-clash-over-capital-plans-russia-presence-ft-says.html "ECB, UniCredit clash over capital plans, Russia presence, FT says") near the Baltic states’ borders could be rebuilt in four years, the intelligence service said. Russia’s [plan to conduct large-scale military exercises at its western borders](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-plans-streamlined-post-brexit-border-checks.html "UK plans streamlined post-Brexit border checks") two years earlier than scheduled could further strain the security situation in the Baltic region this year, it said. [Moving forward the major exercise – to some time this year](https://www.financedigest.com/30-years-of-excel-lence-time-to-move-on.html "30 YEARS OF EXCEL-LENCE: TIME TO MOVE ON?") – at a time when Russia has invaded Ukraine, “can be seen as a deterrent and threat to the West and as an incitement to patriotism among the Russian population”, it added. The Estonian intelligence service said [Russia remained determined to continue its invasion of Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/for-host-indonesia-a-g20-summit-dogged-by-russia-ukraine-rancour.html "For host Indonesia, a G20 summit dogged by Russia-Ukraine rancour") through 2023, as it attempts to wear down Kyiv and its western backers into submission, but was “unlikely” to use tactical nuclear weapons in the conflict. It said [President Vladimir Putin’s](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-president-vladimir-putin-claimed-victory-in-the-biggest-battle-of-the-war-in-ukraine.html "Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in the biggest battle of the war in Ukraine") government was certain to remain in power for the foreseeable future, and that any replacement would be unlikely to be democratic. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius, editing by Terje Solsvik and Bernadette Baum) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---