Estonian Defence Forces
Deputy Chairman, NATO Military Committee, Lieutenant General Mark O. Schissler (USAF) said that the Alliance is prepared to take further steps, if the changing security situation requires it, when meeting Commander of Estonian Defence Forces, Major General Riho Terras on April 4.

According to Schissler, NATO is ready to update the defence plans, enhance exercises and send appropriate deployments if necessary. “All Allies, including Estonia, are protected by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. Our commitment to defend Allies is unbreakable,” he added.

The presence of NATO in the region centred the discussions today, while further development of the defence plans as well as issues of cyber defence were also at the table.

During the visit Lieutenant General Schissler also met with the Undersecretary for Defence Mikk Marran, visited NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn and Ämari airbase.

The Military Committee is the senior military authority in NATO and the oldest permanent body in NATO after the North Atlantic Council, both having been formed months after the Alliance came into being. It is the primary source of military advice to NATO’s civilian decision-making bodies – the North Atlantic Council and the Nuclear Planning Group.

Its advice is sought prior to any authorization for military action and, consequently represents an essential link between the political decision-making process and the military structure of NATO.

Märkmed: