This was reported by The Voice of America.

During an interview in Japan, where he met with Japanese defense officials, Martin Herem emphasized that Estonia should double its defense funding over the next two years. In his opinion, neither the threat of a nuclear response nor significant losses are likely to deter putin from attacking if he decides to invade the Baltic States.

"If you just show your face on my border, the decisive victory has to be very quick - not in months and years, but in days and weeks," Herem said of the potential threat to the Baltic States from russia. - "If we think that this could happen in three years, then we need to make a decision today."

Herem also said that he has spoken with Japanese defense officials in Tokyo about purchasing components that could make it cheaper for Estonia to build defense equipment.

Japan restricts exports of defense products, but it has far fewer restrictions on commercially available components that can be used in military equipment. According to the commander of the Estonian defense forces, this could include earthquake sensors used to detect the approach of russian tanks.

• Estonian Ambassador to Ukraine Anneli Kolk said that russians in Estonia have more rights than in russia