and transport infrastructure. In order to employ better the potential of the Baltic Sea region, Estonia participates actively in realising the regional strategies, as it is important to focus on activities that unite the region as a whole. 3.2 Military Defence The objective of Estonian defence is to prevent and pre-empt military threats, or counter them if necessary. For this purpose, Estonia develops defence posture and deterrence, which must be credible and is based on independently generated off-the-self military capabilities and collective defence. Estonia defends its mainland territory, territorial sea, peripheral bodies of water, air space and cyberspace in all circumstances, however overwhelming the opponent, using the capabilities of both conventional and asymmetric warfare. In the event of a military attack, the entire nation will be involved in immediate defence and counterattack. In the event of an attack, Estonia will defend its entire territory from the state border onwards and will continue military resistance even in areas over which it may have temporarily lost control. Estonia’s military, economic and other potential as a whole will be used to defend the country. The participation of entire society in defence and counterattack in maximum extent is ensured by the population’s high-rate willingness to defend their country, widespread military training, and the large membership of the Defence League. The organisation of Estonia’s military defence is subject to the democratic and civilian control. The defence system is constantly being developed and the whole of society is involved. Military expenditure is at least 2% of Estonian GDP, in line with the NATO-approved criterion; in addition to these figures resources are allocated to the Host Nation Support and National Defence Investment Programme. Estonia’s individual defence capability must be based on real and existing military capabilities and a functioning command structure. Decisions which military capabilities Estonia should develop are made by a long-term planning process taking into account the country’s military needs and resources available. The aim is to develop the complete military capabilities, id est, fully manned, trained, equipped, armed and supplied units and capability packages. Estonia to prevent military threats and apply timely collective defence must have a functioning intelligence service and early-warning system. Military capabilities that Estonia cannot develop independently will be provided in cooperation with NATO. Defence Forces units will be armed and equipped with understanding that they must interoperable with NATO allies and deployable as well as able to act as a “security blanket” across the entire country. Military defence is built in line with the principle of territorial defence. For this reason, Estonia will develop both mobile units and territorial defence units, which are able to provide resistance that hinders the opponent in the event of a crisis. Units of the Defence Forces are comprised of active duty personnel, members of the Defence League, and reservists. Compulsory conscription is maintained as the main way of manning reserve units and as a pool for recruiting active duty personnel. Training is organised with the involvement of wider society, constantly expanding the circle of individuals who have passed the military training. In order to raise the effectiveness of military training the state will develop training areas that correspond to modern requirements on land and sea and in the air and the cyberspace. The voluntary Defence League participates in preparing the country’s military 11