The Defence Section provides a focus for bilateral defence relations. The Section Head is the Defence Attaché who is the representative of the British Armed Forces’ Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS).

   The section is located within the British Embassy available to assist the British Ambassador on Defence related matters. Our role is to provide support for, and advice to, British military training teams, visits from VIPs and representatives within the UK defence, bilateral and multilateral exercises held in Estonia, facilitate co-operation programmes and act as a local liaison contact.

   The Defence Section is in charge of applying for diplomatic clearances for Her Majesty’s ships and military aircraft and liasing with both the Estonian authorities and handling agents to ensure the ship’s / plane’s requirements are met and visit runs smoothly. We often arrange events (lunches, receptions, off duty (R&R) activities, visits to field exercises, etc) as a part of the visit programme, particularly in case of ship's visits.

   Currently the British Defence Attaché (Lt Col Mike Barker) resides in Helsinki, Finland, providing temporary cover also for the Baltics. A local DA Assistant (Mr. Mart Murusalu) based in Tallinn.

   During 2003 - 2009 there was also a Military Special Defence Adviser (Lt Col Rupert Lucas) co-funded by Estonia and the UK side working in Defence Forces General Staff and providing advice on request to the Estonian Ministry of Defence. The areas of his activity included the recent procurement of Minehunters and Estonia’s participation in the Afghanistan operation (ISAF).

Estonian Defence Forces have bought three Sandown class Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs), first of which Admiral Cowan became fully operational in September 2007, the handover of the remaining vessels Sakala and Ugandi took place in 2008 with an End of Project event held in Tallinn Old City Harbour on 17 April 2009. In Afghanistan Estonian soldiers are conducting operations together with British troops in Helmand province, Southern Afghanistan, being one of the highest per capita contributors to ISAF mission.

The Highlights of Defence Section activities in recent years include:

• Numerous ships visits to Tallinn, including HMS Edinburgh participating in first Estonian fleet review in Saaremaa in June 2006; HMS Cornwall in conjunction with Kalev Express Ex in September 2006 and Royal Navy flagship HMS Illustrious in May 2007 and June 2009.
• Baltic Diamond '05 Battlefield Study Exercise in Narva and surroundings in August 2005 and Kalev Express Infantry Training Exercise in September 2006. Both were undertaken by the Kings and Cheshire Regiment under command of Lt Col Peter Rafferty.
• Trafalgar Night 200th anniversary Naval Dinner in the Maritime Museum on 21 Oct 2005.
• Security liaison and preparation for UK VIP visits to Estonia, including: The working visit of PM Tony Blair in December 2005; HRH Duke of Kent attendance at State Funeral of President Lennart Meri in February 2006; The State Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in October 2006; and the Defence Forces Salute event in Tallinn Old City Harbour Pier 17 and on board HMS Liverpool on 20 Oct 2006.
• UK Colour Party from 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment participation at the 2008 Victory Day Defence League parade and RAF Leuchars Tornado F3 fighters fly-past at the 2009 Victory Day parade on 23 June 2009.
• HMS Edinburgh visit commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the arrival of British fleet to Tallinn and British assistance in Estonian War of Independence 1918-20 along with a joint remembrance service held at the Defence Forces Cemetery Royal Navy graves on 12 Dec 2008.
• Programme and planning for House of Commons Defence Committee fact finding visit to Estonia in March 2009.

Defence Attachés accredited to Estonia:

• Lieutenant Colonel Mike BARKER until Nov 2009 (resid. in Helsinki)
• Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay WILSON 2008 - 2009 (resid. in Vilnius)
• Lieutenant Colonel Mike BARKER 2007 - 2008 (resid. in Helsinki)
• Lieutenant Colonel Rick ANDREWS 2006 - 2007 (resid. in Helsinki)
• Lieutenant Colonel Glen GRANT 1999 - 2005 (resid. in Helsinki/Riga)

Assistant Defence Attachés formerly accredited to Estonia:

• RAF Flight Sergeant Graeme MAYNARD 2005 - 2007 (in Tallinn)
• RAF Flight Sergeant Joe STANFIELD 2003 - 2005 (in Tallinn)