Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced that the republic does not rule out the deployment of allied nuclear weapons on its territory if such a step is deemed necessary in accordance with NATO defense plans. "We are not against the deployment of nuclear weapons on our territory. We have no doctrine that would exclude this," the Minister said in an interview, as quoted by the national broadcaster ERR.

Tsahkna emphasized that the decision to deploy such weapons can only be made within the framework of NATO's general strategic planning and upon assessing threats to regional security. According to him, discussing NATO's supranational nuclear deterrence is vital for ensuring Europe's defense capabilities.

Previously, Estonia had already expressed readiness to host allied military aircraft capable of carrying nuclear warheads; this was announced by Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur in June 2025.

Leaders of Latvia and Estonia suddenly call for negotiations with Russia

Russian political figures reacted sharply to Tsahkna’s statements. The head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Leonid Slutsky, called the potential deployment of nuclear weapons in Estonia a "dangerous verbal escalation" and stated that it is "dangerous primarily for the residents of the republic." Slutsky also claimed that such steps violate the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and could trigger a response from Moscow.

Politics Vladimir Kuznetsov, former head of the nuclear and radiation safety inspection for nuclear facilities of the USSR Gosatomnadzor, also responded to Tsahkna's message. According to the specialist, Estonia lacks any technical or infrastructural capabilities to operate and maintain nuclear armaments. Kuznetsov noted that during the Soviet period, ballistic missiles were never stationed in the republic, nor were appropriate storage facilities created.

"This is just barking in terms of 'look how important we are'; they are just showing off in front of each other right now," the expert stated.

The physicist also commented on the historical context, recalling that the Estonian city of Paldiski functioned as a training center for nuclear submarine crews during the Soviet era. However, he emphasized that exclusively Russian specialists were involved there, and the local population had nothing to do with it.

Kuznetsov linked Tallinn's nuclear rhetoric to an intention to demonstrate its significance to alliance partners. In his view, such statements are calculated to create the impression that small countries are capable of exerting pressure on Russia.

The context of publications on Estonian portals shows a broader discussion regarding NATO's role and security on the alliance's eastern flank. Previously, the Narva News portal discussed the escalation of NATO's military presence in border regions, which also caused disagreement and concern among local residents.

In Europe, similar discussions regarding the deployment of nuclear weapons have intensified against the backdrop of threats from Russia and the revision of deterrence strategies. In February 2026, the Polish President spoke about the need for their own nuclear potential, while EU countries discuss strengthening the "nuclear umbrella" amid shifting U.S. policies.

The discussion of nuclear weapon deployment causes concern among non-proliferation experts, as transferring warheads to the territory of new NATO member states is a precedent that could change the balance of power and affect the interpretation of international obligations under the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons).