The Estonian Ministry of Defense does not support a bill in its current form that would expand options for citizens of other allied countries to participate in Estonia's national defense.
The bill was proposed by 53 members of the Estonian Riigikogu in June. The proposed amendments would allow citizens of other NATO member states who are members of the Estonian Defense League to voluntarily take on military service obligations and serve in wartime posts requiring military rank.
The amendments would not impose conscription on NATO citizens, but instead propose an opt-in system for those over 18 who have taken the military oath. The changes would establish a legal basis for appointing NATO citizens to wartime positions.
Training and safety concerns
The ministry highlights distinctions within the Estonian Defense League. A supporting member does not participate actively in military training and is not assigned a wartime position, unlike an active member.
The ministry states that assigning wartime duties to Defense League supporting members who lack the necessary training and do not meet established health requirements is dangerous for both the individual and the fulfillment of the task.
Security and legal clarity
The Estonian Ministry of Defense believes that the obligations, guarantees and responsibilities of those involved are unclear under the current proposal. The ministry argues the state must have a clear legal right and ability to carry out thorough background checks on foreign nationals entering Estonia's national defense to mitigate security risks.
Attention was drawn to the need to mitigate potential security risks.
To address these concerns, the Ministry of Defense proposes creating a separate active member status in the Defense League for foreign nationals. This would ensure that people contributing to national defence meet clear health, training and reliability requirements and have undergone security screening.