The survey came as Estonian and US troops are holding joint tank drills near the Estonian town of Tapa, an event that was touted by Commander-in-Chief of Estonian Defense Forces Riho Terras.
He said that he was "very happy" about the drills, which involved US-made Abrams tanks. Terras voiced his hope that "someday the Estonian government will decide that the country needs its own tanks."
However, the country's Russian-speaking population does not share his optimism. According to the survey, only 24 percent of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia support the establishment of permanent NATO bases in the country, which is backed by 88 percent of Estonian respondents.
The deployment of NATO troops in Estonia is opposed by eight percent of Estonians and 64 percent of Russians, who insist that there is no outside threat to the country's security.
Among those who say "no" to the presence of NATO forces is media expert Rodion Denisov.
"I am of the opinion that the state must defend itself. It would be naive to believe that someone would come one day and provide protection. I do not support the presence of foreign military bases on the territory of my country, Estonia. At the same time, I think that the drills can be carried out," Denisov was quoted by Estonian Public Broadcasting's website as saying.
Ethnic Russians constituted approximately 25.5% of Estonia's population as of January 1, 2010, according to a state website. They predominate in the country's northeastern county of Ida Virumaa as well as in Lasnamäe, Tallinn's most populous residential district.
