Timeline of Estonia’s accession to NATO

This spring marks the 20th anniversary of Estonia joining NATO. To commemorate the occasion, here are the most important moments of our accession journey, which required a lot of homework and years of diplomatic efforts, but thanks to which we are now better protected as a member of NATO than ever before. We will also highlight the most important events of the years following our accession.

04/04/1949

NATO was established with the North Atlantic Treaty, or the Washington Treaty

PHOTO: US President Harry S. Truman signing the North Atlantic Treaty on 24 August 1949. Photo: NATO

The founding members were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Article 10 of the treaty stipulated that any European country had the right to join NATO. This fundamental principle paved the way for the accession of Estonia and remains the basis for the open door policy of NATO to this day.

1952/1955/1982

Greece and Türkiye (1955), Germany (1955), and Spain (1982) joined NATO

7–8/11/1991

The North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) was established at the NATO summit in Rome

NACC meeting in Brussels on 20–21 December 1991. Photo: NATO

The Council created a structure that became the basis for cooperation between NATO and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the new political context. Estonia is one of the founding members of the NACC.

The first meeting of the NACC took place in Brussels on 20–21 December, with the participation of 16 NATO member states and 9 countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Estonia’s representative to NATO, Clyde Kull, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lennart Meri also attended the meeting.

21/01/1992

Canadian C-130 Hercules transport aircraft arrived in Tallinn from the NATO airbase in Germany

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lennart Meri in the cockpit of a NATO aircraft on 26 January 1992. Photo: National Archives

A Canadian C-130 Hercules transport aircraft arrived in Tallinn from the NATO airbase in Germany to check whether Tallinn Airport was ready to receive Canadian aircraft delivering European Community crisis assistance.

14–16/03/1992

Visit to Estonia by NATO Secretary General Manfred Wörner

Lennart Meri and Manfred Wörner in the Old Town of Tallinn. Photo: National Archives

The close personal friendship between Wörner and Meri was one of the cornerstones of Estonia joining NATO. Wörner also famously said that the Old Town of Tallinn is the best diplomat of Estonia and proves that Estonia belongs in Europe.

06–10/08/1992

A NATO squadron was in Tallinn

Article from the Päevaleht daily, 7 August 1992

Considering that Soviet troops were still present in Estonia, this was significant, and it was also the first time that NATO warships entered the Gulf of Finland.
The government of Mart Laar, which took office in October 1992, took a clear foreign policy direction towards full integration with the West, which included joining the European security structures. NATO was seen as the only organisation with both the political and military means to ensure the security of Estonia.

1993

This year, the open door policy became one of the focus topics of NATO

Colonel Dana Kwist, representative of the NATO headquarters, meeting with the Minister of Defence Jüri Luik in Tallinn on 23 November 1993. Photo: National Archives

The aspirations of the Central and Eastern European countries forced the Allies to take a stance on both cooperation and enlargement. In Estonia, the need to develop the Defence Forces in line with NATO standards and to switch to weaponry from the West became more important.

10–11/01/1994

The NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme, which Estonia joined on 3 February 1994, was launched at the Brussels summit

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jüri Luik signing the Partnership for Peace on 3 February 1994. Photo: NATO

For a long time, the Partnership for Peace programme was the only direct instrument for advancing towards the Alliance: thanks to it, Estonia was able to cooperate with the most powerful military-political alliance in the world, including its military and defence structures.
In his speech before the North Atlantic Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jüri Luik, who signed the PfP framework document on behalf of Estonia, confirmed that Estonia has taken the first step towards becoming a full member of NATO.

For a long time, the Partnership for Peace programme was the only direct instrument for advancing towards the Alliance: thanks to it, Estonia was able to cooperate with the most powerful military-political alliance in the world, including its military and defence structures. In his speech before the North Atlantic Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jüri Luik, who signed the PfP framework document on behalf of Estonia, confirmed that Estonia has taken the first step towards becoming a full member of NATO.

The first visit to Estonia by NATO Secretary General Javier Solana

Secretary General Javier Solana meeting President Lennart Meri. From the left: Estonian representative to NATO, Ambassador to Belgium Clyde Kull (second), Minister of Foreign Affairs Siim Kallas (third), Javier Solana (fourth), Lennart Meri (fifth). Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Solana met with President Lennart Meri, Prime Minister Tiit Vähi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Siim Kallas, and Minister of Defence Andrus Öövel. Solana did not make any promises regarding NATO membership, but stressed that Estonia must use all existing opportunities for cooperation with NATO.
Secretary General Solana also visited Estonia in 1998.

07/05/1996

The Riigikogu unanimously approved the first document regarding the national defence of the newly independent Estonia, the ‘Guidelines of the Estonian National Defence Policy’

It officially confirmed that the goal of Estonia was to become a full member of NATO. The same year, Estonia started negotiations with NATO to prepare for accession.

29–30/05/1997

Ministers of foreign affairs of NATO and partner countries met in Sintra, Portugal, to establish the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), which replaced the NACC

Jüri Luik, the first Estonian ambassador accredited to NATO. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This meant that EAPC partner countries could now also accredit their ambassadors to NATO.

Until October 1996, the Estonian representative to NATO was ambassador to Belgium Clyde Kull. Then, Jüri Luik was appointed ambassador to Brussels, and also took on NATO affairs. Clyde Kull took up the post of the Estonian representative to the European Union.
Jüri Luik was the Estonian ambassador to NATO until the spring of 1999, when he was appointed Estonian Minister of Defence.

The following ambassadors and permanent representatives to NATO were:

Sulev Kannike (1999–2003)
Harri Tiido (2003–2007)
Jüri Luik (2007–2012)
Lauri Lepik (2012–2017)
Kyllike Sillaste-Elling (2017–2021)
Jüri Luik (2021–)

1999

50 years since NATO was founded

Washington Summit 1999. Photo: NATO

At the Washington Summit on 23–25 April, NATO recognised Estonia as a potential candidate for membership and the Membership Action Plan process was launched. Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary became members of NATO.

18–19/05/2000

First visit to Estonia by NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson

From the left: Secretary General Lord George Robertson, Minister of Defence Jüri Luik, and Estonian Ambassador to NATO Sulev Kannike at Ämari Air Base. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lord Robertson met with President Lennart Meri, Prime Minister Mart Laar, Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Minister of Defence Jüri Luik, and Liis Klaar, head of the NATO Support Group in the Riigikogu. The main topics of discussion were cooperation between Estonia and NATO and the roadmap to NATO membership.
Secretary General Lord Robertson also visited Estonia in 2001 and 2003.

2001

Following the terrorist attack on the US, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was formed

Estonia started participating in 2003. The largest Estonian contingent – 134 soldiers – was in Afghanistan in 2009. The Estonians served mainly in the Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan with UK units. This mission was our first experience of military cooperation with allied forces, preparing us for NATO membership, but it also claimed the lives of nine Estonian soldiers.

2002

At the NATO Prague Summit on 21–22 November, Estonia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia were invited to join NATO

Prague Summit in 2002. Photo: NATO

January to March 2003

Accession negotiations with NATO were led by Jüri Luik, then advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

26/03/2003

On 26 March in Brussels, NATO member states signed protocols on the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to the North Atlantic Treaty

Last page of the accession protocol. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The ratification of the accession protocols by member states took almost a year.

March 2003

In mid-March, the first unit of the Estonian Defence Forces, a six-member demining unit, started its service in Afghanistan as part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)

Estonian deminer in Afghanistan. Photo: the Defence Forces / Ülo Isberg

Estonian demining units served mainly around Kabul and in northern Afghanistan.

10/03/2004

On 10 March, the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia ratified the NATO North Atlantic Treaty with all its annexes

Photo: Press release of the Riigikogu on the approval of the North Atlantic Treaty Accession Act

Foto: Riigikogu pressiteade Põhja-Atlandi lepinguga ühinemise seaduse heakskiitmisest

11/03/2004

First visit to Estonia by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

Secretary General Scheffer meeting with Tarmo Kõuts, Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Secretary General Scheffer met with President Arnold Rüütel, Prime Minister Juhan Parts, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristiina Ojuland, Minister of Defence Margus Hanson, and Vice Admiral Tarmo Kõuts, Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. He gave an assessment of the defence capabilities of Estonia, talked about the NATO airspace, defence spending, conscription, terrorism, and the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer also visited Estonia in 2006 and 2009.

29/03/2004

The instruments of accession were deposited with the United States government in Washington, making Estonia a full member of NATO

Prime Minister Juhan Parts handing over the ratification letters to US Secretary of State Colin Powell at the US Treasury Department on 29 March 2004. Photo: NATO

This event confirmed that Estonia will never be alone again and that the North Atlantic Alliance is ready to defend Estonia, as Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an attack against one NATO member is an attack against all NATO members. Similarly, Estonia has a duty to provide help if another NATO ally is attacked.

Ceremony in Washington DC, at the White House on 29 March 2004. Photo: NATO

30/03/2004

One day after Estonia joined NATO, on 30 March 2004, the President of the United States of America George W. Bush sent a letter to Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts, congratulating Estonia on its accession

PHOTO: Congratulatory letter from Bush to Parts, 30 March 2004

He also informed him of the return of the collection of military decorations of General Johan Laidoner. During the occupation, the collection had been taken from Estonia first to Sweden and then to the United States, where it was kept in the United States Army Military History Center since 1982.

Immediately after the Baltic States joined NATO, NATO aircraft began securing Baltic airspace from the Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania.

02/04/2004

On 2 April, a ceremony was held in Brussels to mark the accession of seven new allies (Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) to NATO

The hoisting of the Estonian flag on 2 April 2004. Photo: NATO

The Estonian flag was permanently hoisted alongside the flags of the other member states in front of the NATO headquarters.

At the same time as the ceremony in Brussels, the NATO flag was hoisted in front of Kadriorg Palace. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

28–29/06/2004

Estonia participated in the NATO Summit in Istanbul as a full member of the Alliance for the first time, with all the obligations, rights, and opportunities that this commitment entails

NATO summit in Istanbul. Photo: NATO

November 2006

In November, the first Estonian Defence Forces sub-unit Estcoy (Estonian company) was deployed to Afghanistan

Fighters of Estcoy-17 lowering the Estonian flag at Camp Shorabak (formerly Camp Bastion) military base on 9 May 2014. Photo: Wikipedia / US Marine Corps

Various Estcoy units participated in ISAF operations in the Helmand Province under the command of the British Army until May 2014.

14/05/2008

On 14 May, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence was established in Brussels when Estonia, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Spain signed a memorandum of understanding

Signatories of the agreement on cooperation in the field of cyber defence in Brussels on 14 May 2008. Photo: the Defence Forces

The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) was opened in Tallinn, which is a sign of Estonia’s reliability and competence in this field. The Centre aims to develop the relevant NATO doctrines and conduct technical cyber surveillance. In addition to NATO members, other like-minded countries with an interest in cyber security (e.g. Ukraine, Australia, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Japan, and South Korea) contribute to the work of the centre.

2009

Albania and Croatia were accepted as members at the Strasbourg Summit, which marked the 60th anniversary of NATO

08/10/2009

First visit to Estonia by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at a press conference at Kadriorg Palace on 8 October 2009. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Rasmussen met President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet, Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo, and Lieutenant General Ants Laaneots, Commander of the Defence Forces. He expressed his gratitude for the participation of Estonia in NATO operations, especially in Afghanistan, and appreciated our contribution to cyber defence.
Secretary General Rasmussen also visited Estonia in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

22–23/04/2010

An informal meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of NATO took place in Tallinn

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of NATO at an informal meeting in Tallinn in 2010. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

It was the largest high-level foreign policy event organised in Estonia, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton among the participants.

28/04/2014

A US Airborne Division arrived in Estonia to reinforce the deterrence and defence posture on the Eastern Flank of the alliance in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine

A US Airborne Division at Ämari Air Base. Photo: Stenbock House

30/04/2014

As part of the reinforced deterrence and defence posture, the Baltic Air Policing mission of NATO began in Ämari

Danish fighters at Ämari. Photo: the Defence Forces

The first rotation was manned by Danish F-16 fighters from 30 April 2014.

04–05/09/2014

At the NATO Wales Summit, groundbreaking decisions were taken which affected the security of Estonia: first and foremost, the creation of the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force of about 5,000 troops, with air, maritime, and special operations forces elements

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of NATO pictured together at the Wales Summit 2014. Photo: NATO

The decision was also made to pre-deploy the necessary arms and equipment to NATO Allies on the eastern border.
Participants in the summit also confirmed that cyberattacks could trigger Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, and highlighted the commitment by Allies to raise defence investments to 2% of the GDP by 2024, the so-called Wales Commitment. Seven countries signed a protocol of common intent to establish a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). In addition to Estonia, the UK-led coalition was joined by Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark. More recently, Sweden and Finland have joined the JEF.

Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas posing with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and UK Prime Minister David Cameron at the 2014 Wales Summit. Photo: NATO

20/11/2014

First visit to Estonia by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meeting with Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas, Defence Forces Commander Riho Terras, and Estonian Ambassador to NATO Lauri Lepik at Ämari Air Base. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Stoltenberg met with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas, Minister of Foreign Affairs Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, Minister of Defence Sven Mikser, and Commander of the Defence Forces, Major General Riho Terras. He visited Ämari Air Base, where he met with Estonian, US, and German defence forces, and visited the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. The security situation in Europe, the strengthening of the deterrence posture of NATO, and the Ukraine-Russia conflict were discussed.
Secretary General Stoltenberg also visited Estonia in 2017, 2022, and 2023.

June 2015

In June, a NATO Force Integration Unit was established in Estonia, the main task of which is the integration and cooperation between NATO Allies and the Estonian Defence Forces

Opening of the renovated NATO Force Integration Unit in Tallinn on 13 June 2016, with Minister of Defence Hannes Hanso in the middle. Photo: the Defence Forces

The unit will prepare and support the reception of the units of the NATO Response Force and its operations on the territory of the Republic of Estonia.

08–09/07/2016

At the NATO Warsaw summit, it was decided to deploy NATO Allied battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to strengthen the deterrence and defence posture of NATO in a changed security environment

NATO Warsaw summit in 2016. Photo: NATO

2017

On 5 April, the troops of the NATO battlegroup arrived in Tapa, forming part of the 1st Infantry Brigade

The NATO battlegroup in formation in Tapa on 20 April 2017. Photo: the Defence Forces

The United Kingdom became the framework nation for the battlegroup based in Estonia, with France, Denmark, Belgium and Iceland also taking part.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson meeting with British officers in Tapa in December 2019. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

05/04/2017

Montenegro became a member of NATO

2018

From 2 to 14 May, the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battlegroup took part in ‘Siil’, the traditional military exercise of the Estonian Defence Forces, for the first time

British tanks during the exercise ‘Siil’. Photo: the Defence Forces

This was the largest exercise of the Estonian Defence Forces since the country restored its independence, with the participation of over 15,000 conscripts, reservists, members of the Defence Forces, members of the Defence League, members of the Women’s Voluntary Defence Organisation, and Allied soldiers.

2020

North Macedonia became the 30th member of NATO

2021

At the NATO summit in Brussels on 14 June, it was agreed to set up the NATO Innovation Fund to create the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)

NATO DIANA launch event in Tallinn. Photo: Tehnopol

Its aim is to create a network of technology testing centres and accelerator centres to better harness civil innovation for the security of NATO. The fund is expected to invest €1 billion in innovators across the Alliance working on new and breakthrough technologies.
On 11 January 2024, the Estonian NATO DIANA accelerator was officially opened in the Tehnopol Science and Business Park in Tallinn.

2021

The NATO mission in Afghanistan ended, and the Allies and all the Estonian servicemen left the country

Members of the Estonian Defence Forces in Afghanistan. Photo: Estonian Defence Forces

Estonia also helped to organise the evacuation and reception of the ten Afghans who assisted Estonia. Estonia participated in a total of two operations in Afghanistan – the International Security Assistance Force from 2003 to 2014 and the Resolute Support Mission from 2015 to 2021. Over the years, nearly 3,000 members of the Estonian Defence Forces participated in these missions.

25/08/2021

Ambassador Jüri Luik, the current Estonian Permanent Representative to NATO, presented his credentials to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

Jüri Luik and Jens Stoltenberg after the presentation of credentials. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2022

At NATO’s extraordinary summit on 24 March, the brutal and illegal military aggression of Russia against Ukraine was addressed as the most serious security crisis in Europe in the history of NATO

Extraordinary NATO summit on 24 March 2022. Photo: NATO

The extraordinary summit focused on support for Ukraine. NATO also decided to reinforce its deterrence and defence posture and to create four new battlegroups in the East – in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia.

29–30/06/2022

Important decisions for the security of Estonia were taken at the Madrid summit

NATO Summit in Madrid in 2022. Photo: NATO

A new NATO Strategic Concept was agreed upon, which identifies Russia as the greatest threat to the security of the Alliance. It was decided to continue to adapt the defence and deterrence posture of NATO so that the Alliance is able to defend every inch of its territory, including the creation of a division structure within the NATO framework for the defence of Estonia.

Joint photo at the NATO summit in Madrid on 30 June 2022. Photo: NATO

30/06/2022

Sweden and Finland received invitations to join NATO

2023

On 4 April, Finland became the 31st Ally of NATO, which significantly strengthened the security of the whole Euro-Atlantic area, but especially the Baltic Sea region

Hoisting of the Finnish flag at NATO headquarters on 4 April 2023. Photo: NATO

Soome lipu heiskamine NATO peakorteri juures 04.04.2023. Foto: NATO

2023

On 11–12 July, a NATO summit was held in Vilnius, where the Allies unanimously decided that Ukraine should be allowed to join NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Vilnius Summit. Photo: NATO

They also approved new regional defence plans to further strengthen defence and deterrence.

2024

On 7 March, Sweden became the 32nd Ally of NATO, enabling it to respond even more effectively to challenges and threats in the Baltic Sea region

Hoisting of the Swedish flag at NATO headquarters in Brussels on 11 March 2024.