The 1st Infantry Brigade of the Estonian Defence Forces affiliated to the Danish Division

19.08.2009

On Tuesday, 18 August 2009, the acting Chief of Estonian Defence Forces, Brigadier General Neeme Väli and Chief of  the Danish Defence Forces Admiral Tim Sloth Jørgensen, signed a contract of co-operation affiliating the 1st Infantry Brigade of the Estonian Defence Forces to the Danish Division on training purposes.

The 1st Infantry Brigade represents the main manoeuvre unit of the Estonian Defence Forces, which includes the majority of the units trained during the compulsory military service period. Scoutsbattalion, which consists of professional defence force members, also belongs into the structure of 1. Infantry Brigade.

The Danish Division (‘Danske Division’ in Danish) represents the largest contingent of the Danish Army, and is also one of the four divisions of the Multinational Corps North East.

Estonian Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo said at the festive ceremony in Haderslev that Denmark would continue to be one of Estonia’s major partners in defence related co-operation. “Denmark was the first country to conclude with Estonia a bilateral treaty for defence related co-operation in 1994. Denmark has provided invaluable support for the establishment of Estonia’s national defence structures and Estonian and Danish soldiers are operating side-by-side in Kosovo and Southern Afghanistan,” said the Minister of Defence.

Mr. Aaviksoo also met with his Danish counterpart Mr. Søren Gade, to discuss topics regarding to NATO Air Policing in the Baltic States, Baltic Defence College and participation in international operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

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