The Prince of Wales is showing support for UK troops guarding Nato’s border with Russia, with a two-day visit to Estonia.
The visit began on Thursday with a meeting with Estonia’s President, Alar Karis, in Tallinn, followed by a visit to a school teaching refugees from the war in Ukraine.
Prince William will see soldiers training in the Baltic state as part of a multinational force intended to deter Russian aggression on Nato’s eastern flank.
The 900 UK troops in Estonia include soldiers from the Mercian Regiment, of which Prince William is colonel-in-chief. This is currently the British Army’s biggest operational deployment overseas.
The visit comes amid uncertainty over the war in Ukraine and worries about Russia’s next steps.
Earlier this week, Estonia was one of the countries on Russia’s borders to withdraw from a treaty banning anti-personnel landmines – a sign of rising tensions.
Its navy has been trying to prevent sabotage of undersea cables. And the country is planning to increase military spending to 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP).
Prince William’s visit to this small, high-tech country is another moment of royal soft power, sending a message about the UK’s commitment to defending the Baltic states.
It follows a visit a few months ago by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
And talking to students and staff at the University of Tallinn, the royal visit seems to be warmly welcomed.
It is seen as a sign of support from Western allies for a country, with a population of only 1.3 million, keenly aware of its need for military assistance.
The threat from Russia seems very real from their perspective. “We’re more or less preparing for war,” Catlyn Kirna, a senior lecturer specialising in cyber-security, says.
BBC
