Estonia to receive US tank unit in exchange for HIMARS

The United States plans to move the HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems currently stationed in Estonia to Lithuania, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur announced, ERR reports. In return, a US Army tank unit will be deployed to Estonia.

According to Pevkur, the HIMARS were initially placed in Estonia to train local troops until Estonia received its own systems. “They stayed here even longer than originally planned. Now they are moving to Lithuania to do the same,” the minister noted.

He added that the arrival of the tank unit will strengthen the country’s armoured capabilities: “One unit replaces another, and you could even say that the armoured forces are increasing.”

The exact size of the new contingent has not yet been disclosed — details will be revealed later in September when the unit arrives.

By Vugar Khalilov