German Army Holds Brave Blue 26 Exercise in Estonia

A ten-day exercise by the German armed forces (Bundeswehr), called Brave Blue 26, has been running in Estonia since 16 October. Its aim is to practise delivering reinforcements to the Baltic states in the event of a crisis. Troops and equipment have arrived in Estonia by land, sea and air, according to Estonian public broadcaster ERR, citing its programme Aktuaalne kaamera.

Bundeswehr vehicles are moving along Estonian roads, but the German military is not disclosing exact routes or the number of personnel and equipment items that have arrived.

How the forces arrived

Benjamin Eberhard, commander of the Bundeswehr's 4th Logistics Company, said the strategic deployment to Estonia used every mode of transport. Some forces came overland and others through a port. Heavy equipment was loaded onto a ferry, while soldiers flew in by plane.

What the exercise involves

Over the course of the week, the troops plan to set up command posts and rehearse communications and logistics. For German military logisticians, this is the first exercise of its kind in Estonia; until now such drills have been held every year in Lithuania and Latvia.

One challenge for the soldiers has been Estonia's natural environment, including waterlogged and marshy terrain. Eberhard said the troops were mainly in western Estonia, where the Estonian military provided bases to house personnel. Outside the bases, they mostly carried out field reconnaissance, studying the landscape and local conditions.

What comes next

The current exercise is part of preparation for larger logistics exercises planned for next year in Lithuania and Latvia.

In the coming days, German military equipment may be spotted in various districts of Estonia, though the exact locations and times of movement are not being disclosed.