Estonia Plans to Increase Military Spending by $41.5Mln in 2016

Estonia plans to spend 449 million euros ($503 million) on defense in 2016, an increase of 37 million euros compared to 2015, according to the defense ministry press service.

TALLINN (Sputnik) — The country's military expenditure will grow by about nine percent to approximately 2.07 percent of gross domestic product, according to ministry data.

About 40 million euros will be allocated to purchase new weapons, equipment and ammunition for the main strike units of the defense forces, the 1st and the 2nd infantry brigades, the ministry said.

The defense ministry will also spend some 10.1 million euros to develop infrastructure for NATO forces.

Estonia joined the NATO alliance in 2004, along with Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.