The national defense report is headed by MP and member of the Riigikogu National Defense Committee Meelis Kiili (Reform) heavily criticizes two preceding EDF commanders, Riho Terras and Martin Herem, for agreeing to the removal of key functions from the position of EDF commander.

Delfi on Monday published a summary of the report, titled "The state's readiness to prevent and counter security threats in a deteriorating security situation" – the report itself is to be issued by the Riigikogu committee this Thursday.

The document highlights as a problem the command chain in the defense field being fragmented, while the Ministry of Defense has attempted to impose peacetime management practices on crisis and wartime procedures, the report said.

Key management functions have been removed from the EDF commander, such as personnel management and combat service support — while the document specifically criticizes the creation of the State Defense Investment Center (RKIK) and the widening of the Defense Resources Agency's (KRA) area of responsibility.

The report notes that taking functions away from the EDF commander does not free them up from responsibility for any possible military outcomes or consequences of war, stating that: "The EDF commander cannot shift the blame for a potential defeat onto the Defense Resources Agency or the State Defense Investment Center," adding that this is the case even if those two agencies' "inefficient activities might have been the cause of this."

The report names names, going on to state: "The commander of the EDF General Riho Terras (2011–2018), did not understand the significance of combat service support functions in fulfilling the wartime tasks of the EDF, and agreed to the creation of the State Defense Investment Center as a separate agency and the transfer of some functions out of the EDF."

"Similarly, the last commander, General Martin Herem, did not grasp the importance of the EDF's personnel function during wartime, which is why he handed it over to the Defense Resources Agency," the report goes on, noting that "Both former commanders were lucky that war did not begin during their tenure, as without these functions, the wartime EDF cannot function effectively."

The report also finds that energy security and climate neutrality are in conflict, citing an excessive reliance on foreign connections and over-investment in wind farms, which, according to the report, are notably vulnerable to drone strikes.

Speaking to "Aktuaalne kaamera" later on Monday, Kiili said: "Essentially, the key functions have been taken away from [the EDF], which we believe should be restored. /---/ Let's say that the EDF prepare for battle; the state must prepare for war."

Stoicescu: Report a draft which reflects author's opinion

National Defense Committee Chair Kalev Stoicescu (Eesti 200), told "Aktuaalne kaamera" that the current document was a draft report to be voted on and adopted, or not, following its presentation this Thursday and in a process continuing next week. As such, the criticisms contained in the draft report reflect personal opinion.

"This is a piece of subjective blanket criticism that reflects the authors' personal views. And this is not yet the report of the National Defence Committee. This is a draft report. It may become the committee's report if the committee approves it," Stoicescu said.

Kunnas: The EDF is like a 'baby bird'

The committee's deputy chair, Leo Kunnas meanwhile likened the EDF to "a baby bird, to whom the bird's mother, i.e. the Defense Resources Agency (RKIK), and the bird's father, i.e. the Defense Forces Support Command (KRA), must deliver worms. They bring worms; they don't bring them – if they don't bring them, it starves; if they bring a fat worm, it eats well. In other words, the EDF as a 'bird' still cannot fly, it lacks the full, necessary functions to be able to perform combat functions."

Kunnas is an independent MP but votes with the EKRE faction at the Riigikogu.

Expert: Report's authors looking for validation of their stances

Security expert and former high-ranking defense ministry official Meelis Oidsalu also found the report reflects the viewpoints of its former officer authors, based on a clearly defined political outlook which can and has been rebutted.

From 2015 to 2021, Oidsalu served as undersecretary at the Ministry of Defense, most of that time overseeing the field of defense planning.

"In my view, the activities of EDF commander Martin Herem and his predecessor Riho Terras have been treated in a rather tendentious manner. And at times it seems partially like an attempt at rewriting or even canceling recent history — an effort to reinterpret things that are not actually true and can be relatively easily refuted," Oidsalu told "Ringvaade" on Monday.

The report's main coordinator, Kiili, was well known for opposition to the former EDF commanders, which meant putting him in charge of the process meant an outcome like this was likely, Oidsalu added.

"I wouldn't have put someone in charge of this report whose public opposition, even during their service in the EDF, to the then leadership — including Herem — was widely known. That was too big a risk of unresolved tensions spilling over into the report," Oidsalu said, referring to Kiili, who led the drafting of the report.

The authors were actually looking for validation, he added.

"The authors went looking for confirmation of their already publicly stated positions. The core of the authors — Väli, Kunnas, Laneman, Kiili — have been promoting the same narrative in their articles for a long time. It's somewhat sectional and not even cross-party, as some of the recommendations—for instance on energy security or demographic issues—tend to repeat EKRE's anti-defense forces narrative and political stance," he continued.

"The general problem with this report is that some good recommendations get buried — let's be honest — under a disinformation campaign. The same conflict we had a couple of years ago between EKRE and the defense forces' commander is now continuing on a different platform," Oidsalu added.

Going forward, the committee should further edit the report, as it contains several factual errors and unverified claims, he added.

The recommendations in the report as it stands "weren't very evidence-based," Oidsalu said, adding "You probably wouldn't get a Master's degree for this, not even at the military academy."

"In the future, the committee should include an analytical team for such reports, consisting not only of former officers whose positions we already know and which shouldn't be just a collected volume of their previously published articles with added commentary, but should also include some fresh perspectives," he added.

The report also reflects leadership tensions within the Riigikogu committee itself, Oidsalu noted.

President Alar Karis: Let's focus on meaningful points

Postimees reported President Alar Karis said following yesterday's regular national defense council meeting that before this document can even be called a report, the committee must approve it.

The head of state expressed hope this won't lead to a new crisis where the content gets sidelined and the situation devolves into a political battle.

"If there are meaningful points in it – and I believe there certainly are – then let's focus on those and see what has been overlooked and what could be improved," the head of state said.

Postimees: Politicians and society as a whole did not grasp significance of security even 10 years ago

In a separate editorial, Postimees stated that in 2011 when Terras became EDF commander, far from being a golden age for the Estonian military, it was essentially bankrupt.

Officials, politicians and society were not at that point ready to grant the EDF the resources it needed, something which previous commanders, Gen. Ants Laaneots, later a Reform Party MP, had to grapple with.

Laaneots' predecessors, VAdm Tarmo Kõuts and Lt Gen. Johannes Kert before him were in the same predicament; politicians and also the media did not grasp the situation, even 10 years after Estonia joined NATO and the EU.

This naivety also should be put alongside criticisms of other European countries about fully grasping the Russian threat – as neither was this grasped even in Estonia, until relatively recently.

In addition to Kiili and Kunnas, the National Defense Committee reports authors were: Alar Laneman (Reform), Neeme Väli (Isamaa) and Anti Poolamets (EKRE). Peeter Tali (Eesti 200) withdrew from compiling the report, as he disagreed with part of its content.

Gen. Riho Terras was EDF commander 2011 to 2018 and is now an Isamaa MEP. Gen. Martin Herem succeeded him, and was commander until last year, when his term ended. Current commander-in-chief is Gen. Andrus Merilo.

Editor's note: This piece was updated to include comment from Kalev Stoicescu, Leo Kunnas and Meelis Oidsalu, as well as a statement from President Karis.

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