The view from Estonia

Highlights from the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Annual Report

The only existential threat to the security of our region, including Estonia’s sovereignty, stems from Russia.

From the report. “Spot the spies! On 16-19 November 2022, the 10^th forum for so-called Russian compatriots living in the Baltic states was held in Roshchino, Leningrad Oblast. The forum participants included several individuals with ties to the Russian intelligence services; however, they all represented some other institution or organisation. Source: Vyborg TV (screenshot).”

I’ve been writing about Turkey, which is preoccupying me greatly—the earthquake brought back many memories and emotions that had long been dormant. But I wanted to quickly share with you the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Annual Report, which just came out yesterday. The Välisluureamet, as the Estonian intelligence service is called, is one of the better-informed— probably the best-informed—intelligence service in all matters Russian.

toomas ilves aka "I'm not only on this site" 🙄 @IlvesToomas

Fresh off the presses! The most eagerly awaited intelligence report in Europe (mainly because it's the only one that ever says anything). The Estonian Foreign Intelligence Annual for 2023.

raport.valisluureamet.eeInternational Security and Estonia 2023 – Estonian Foreign Intelligence ServiceThe Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service has published a report covering the security situation in the Baltic Sea region.

And as Toomas Hendrik Ilves notes, they’re usually uncommonly forthright in their public assessments. (When I asked him why, he said, “Estonia for years has thought being public is the best way to deal with Russian behavior. It’s also why we prosecute spies and why we out them when they do it under diplomatic cover, when others cover it up.”)