Military threat: Do the residents of Estonia feel safe and are they waiting for NATO support?
NATO will defend Estonia in case of an attack, Postimees writes. Nevertheless, according to the survey, the majority of Estonians lack a sense of security.
Denis Antonov
During the last four months of Russia's special operation in Ukraine, the concern of Estonian residents for their own safety has been growing daily. Uncertainty and fear were not only felt on the part of ordinary people, but also heard in the assessments of military experts, political scientists, public figures. Will NATO protect us if necessary? How to protect yourself and your loved ones?
It remains to dry the crackers
Andrey Lapitskiy, Sillamae:
– You can't trust anyone. We have witnessed how many times our country has been betrayed by both the West and the Soviets, and even today there are no guarantees that we will not once again become a bargaining chip in politics between big players. We must try to rely only on ourselves. No, NATO, allies, US bases – we take everything, but we also prepare ourselves. And not only the state. It is necessary, you know, as in the joke, where it says that there are crackers left to dry, and the cartridges and the rifle are already hidden. I am not calling for an escalation of aggression in society, it's just that those who are preparing for war usually live in peace, and those who do not want to feed their army will feed someone else's.
Although we must pay tribute, we invest a lot in the army, and our two percent always come to NATO on time, not like from Greece or Bulgaria there. It seems to me that the best way to prepare for the events that are happening now in Ukraine is not panic and not calm, but something in between. Something that everyone can control themselves, without relying entirely on the state. Perhaps these are some kind of horizontal connections by hobbies, by acquaintances. Here is such a preparation for trouble – it will really work, it will be a good thing. Someone has a basement, someone is a doctor, someone is a policeman, someone has a subsidiary farm, and someone has a gun, of course. That's when you can't conquer us, then you can sleep peacefully.
It is necessary not to fight, but to talk
Natalia Samoilova, Tallinn:
– There is the simplest way to protect our country. When we all lived in friendship and harmony and did not bite each other, then everything was fine, everyone was happy. And when someone shows his teeth, the other does something in response, and then a fight happens. Therefore, I think our society, and especially the authorities at the top, should think about how to properly regulate all this. You can't push each other, you know? For me, the rules of decency are obvious, as in every house, at the household level. If someone starts fighting, snapping, then the other gives him in return. You will understand that when there are conversations, conversations, then the conflict stops and peace comes. It is necessary not to fight, but to talk. And what is happening now with our security – I, for example, am in great concern.
Do not forget about the NATO Treaty
Sergey Zanfirov, Maardu:
– I know that we are protected now, and no one and nothing threatens us. Everything is calm in Estonia. Both the Defense Forces and our NATO partners can resolve issues of protecting European countries from any threat. And thanks to the state for this, first of all, that it spares no money and resources for defense. It is important to see where people's money is going. We live and work in Estonia, we pay our taxes to the state, and if they are properly allocated to the budget for security, then this inspires confidence and trust. And most importantly, we should not forget about the fifth paragraph of the NATO Treaty, which guarantees the help of the entire civilized world to all of us if something happens on our land.
Today there are no prerequisites for aggression
Yann Lapyan, Tallinn:
– I understand that you are asking a question in the light of events in Ukraine. I am sure that there are smart people in our country, let them think about the security problem, the state should effectively solve this issue of national importance. The people themselves, of course, can seriously influence the situation in wartime, but now the world. I am a man far from the army, but it seems to me that so far we have enough for protection. Today there are no prerequisites for any aggression on the part of Russia, and then, we have cybersecurity services, and I think this will help us prevent what is happening in Ukraine. It will not affect us on such a scale.
The state must protect us
Nina Kushlyanskaya, Tallinn:
– For safety it is necessary to live according to the laws of the state and nature. I am eighty years old, and I live like this myself. I love animals, I love people, I love children very much and my elderly peers. And you know, many people don't understand me. That's the way of life they don't understand and don't accept, that's what's offensive. Money is not all that a person needs, although it is difficult without them, but they are not our goal. Love and health are the main things.
Then there will be fewer wars, although, in my opinion, they will not disappear at all. You know perfectly well that humanity has been fighting since ancient times, and therefore we must be ready to defend ourselves. First of all, the state should deal with this, because it should protect us with our money, deductions. And we will also think about how to protect our lives, how to make peace.
My friends are storing food and fuel
Lydia Sikorskaya, Kohtla-Jarve:
– I do not believe that the same tragedy can play out here in Estonia as in Ukraine. On the one hand, we do everything for security. Look: constant exercises, new military equipment, we are the first in Europe in computers and IT. On the other hand, we have the support of NATO countries, and they guarantee our protection from such actions that we have seen from Russia for four months.
I am sure that Moscow will not dare to fight with NATO. In general, it is difficult to imagine how it is possible in the twenty–first century to talk about the war in Europe, and even more so about the world War, and NATO and Russia are the Third World War. I never thought this was possible. To be honest, some of my friends stock up on food, fuel, and even strengthen the basement in dachas somehow. I'm calm for now, but I keep cash at home, which has never happened.
We need good relations with our neighbors
Raisa Magzhanova, Maardu:
– The most important thing that there is no war is friendship. All people want peace, friendship, mutual understanding. Here, not only the authorities should make efforts in the direction of good, but also we ourselves. Often, very often, many conflicts are provoked by the most ordinary people. We need good relations with neighbors at home, in the country, at work, and with neighboring countries, and everywhere. If we use weapons and increase the number of soldiers, then there will only be conflicts. And then there will be nothing more. There are weapons, there are soldiers – well, that's conflicts. Good relations are what all people need.
The government is not quite coping
Galina Pofh, Tallinn:
– After all, the state should think about us. We what? Of course, we want there to be peace, for everyone to be happy, but we cannot influence all this as a government. And the government, it seems to me, is not quite coping with these responsibilities. Today I don't feel safe, I'm not sure of my position. For the past twenty years, there was a sense of security, we all felt it both in political terms and in everyday life.
Now, look, electricity prices are rising, food prices are rising, jobs are being cut, refugees are coming. Security is not only to live without war, it is also a peaceful life in its own way. When even she is unpredictable, what calmness there is. Therefore, people have anxiety in all directions. I don't get into politics myself, but at my level I can say that the conflict in Ukraine, we can have fifty-fifty. That's how we live – uncertainty in everything.
Author's comment
Following the results of the last NATO summit in Madrid, Estonia received an exhaustive answer to the main question on the fifth point of the Treaty of the member states of the North Atlantic Alliance: protection is guaranteed from the first seconds of aggression. According to Estonian Defense Ministry Chancellor Kusti Salma, it is now safe to live, work, and invest in Estonia.
Indeed, according to the decisions taken at the NATO summit in Madrid, immediate protection is guaranteed by the real armed formations of the alliance, as well as plans, communication systems, equipment, infrastructure. Even today, if a threat appears, NATO is ready to deploy 15,000 to 20,000 soldiers and officers in Estonia. These actions will be coordinated by the operational headquarters managed jointly with the British Army. To do this, a brigade of British military personnel up to 5,000 people will be additionally deployed on the territory of Estonia. The United States will also contribute.
Postimees decided to find out how much these guarantees affect the mood of Estonian residents. Having interviewed more than 30 people, I have to state that the majority of respondents do not have a sense of security. It is worth noting that many people also consider more general issues of a political and economic nature to be security issues, and the vast majority of respondents feel uncertainty and fear of Russia's actions.
Nevertheless, the total number of responses can be divided into two characteristic groups, regardless of gender, age and social status. In one, the path of dialogue, concessions and friendship is offered to protect Estonia, in the other – the path of deterrence, demonstration of strength and readiness to defend their country.
It is important to note that, answering the difficult question of who should protect Estonia and by what methods, the majority of residents of the republic showed noticeable activity and openness. I am glad that more than half of the respondents are ready to defend the country in case of external aggression, regardless of where it comes from.
