The mission of the Ministry of Defence is to deter attacks against Estonia and ensure that the country is capable of defending itself against external threats.

Estonian national defence is based on initial self-defence capability as well as membership in NATO.

During 1934, after the self-coup of Konstantin Päts, the institution of the Commander-in-Chief was reinstated and the role of the Ministry of Defence was reduced.

The first years of the re-established Ministry of Defence were hectic because the Estonian military needed to be re-built from scratch and resources were extremely scarce.

The Deputy Undersecretary of Defence Policy is responsible for developing the vision of the future Estonian national defence; the Deputy Undersecretary for Defence Planning is responsible for determining the capabilities and budget needed to put the vision in action; the Deputy Undersecretary for Legal and Administrative Affairs is responsible for supporting all the processes, which take place in the Ministry.

[1] The Ministry of Defence co-ordinates its activities with all the divisions and sub-offices concerned at the decision-making stage.

Its main goals are the development and maintenance of a credible capability to defend the nation's vital interests and development of the EDF in a way that ensures their interoperability with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states and their capability to participate in the full range of Alliance missions.

The task of the Estonian Defence League is to enhance the nation’s readiness to defend the independence of Estonia and its constitutional order.

Its main function is to collect, analyse and report information on Estonia’s external security threats.

It is led by the Director General of the Foreign Intelligence Service and is supervised by Security Authorities Surveillance Committee of the Parliament, The Ministry of Defence, the Chancellor of Justice and the National Audit Office of Estonia.

[5] The Centre for Defence Investment (Estonian: Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus) is an agency that handles military procurement and manages property.

[11] There are also supplemental policies regulating the provision of support for veterans and the states participation in the defence industry.

Supporting international efforts is central to achieving solidarity towards collective defence.

Civilian support is provided through mobilization, utilization of state assets, contractual relations and compulsory encumbrances.

The main goals of National Defence Development Plan 2017-2026 are risk prevention, military deterrence, development of initial independent defence capability, capability of resisting crises and attacks with the actions of the whole society and raising social cohesion.

The development plan is focused on ensuring deterrence and the capability to counter enemy aggression, while also taking into account available resources.

Estonian defence industry will receive 3.2 million euros co-financing of development projects.