Estonia's defence rests on people, not just weapons — Markus Rosin on reservist week

Markus Rosin, head of the Ministry of Defence's defence will and human resources policy department, gave an overview of the upcoming reservist week at a press conference. He emphasised that Estonia's defence capability is built on its people, not weaponry alone.

At a press conference held at the Estonian Ministry of Defence, Markus Rosin, head of the department for defence will and human resources policy, outlined the programme and goals of the upcoming reservist week.

Rosin stressed that Estonia's defence does not rely solely on equipment and armaments, but fundamentally on its people — the reservists who form the backbone of the country's territorial defence. The reservist week is designed to strengthen that foundation by bringing together trained personnel and reinforcing their readiness.

The event underscores Estonia's broader commitment to a total defence model, where civilian reservists play a central role alongside professional military forces. Officials see regular exercises and awareness events like this week as essential tools for maintaining a credible deterrent.