April 17, 2023
The United States Army is moving equipment through Estonia this week in preparation for Exercise Arrow 23, conducted with NATO’s newest member state, Finland. The U.S. Army’s 1-8 Cavalry Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team will conduct operations to send equipment through Estonia and then by ferry through Tallinn’s ports to Helsinki. The equipment includes nearly an entire armored combined arms battalion with support elements.
“The rapid movement of a Combined Arms Battalion, including Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, demonstrates the U.S. Government’s commitment to our NATO Allies and the U.S. military’s capabilities as a combat credible force,” said Lieutenant Colonel Jay Ireland, commander of the 1-8 Cavalry Battalion, based in Texas and currently stationed in Pabrade, Lithuania. “I look forward to demonstrating our readiness, lethality, and firepower across the Baltics and in Finland.”
Exercise Arrow 23 and other similar exercises demonstrate the U.S. commitment to enhance collective defense and deterrence across the region. In Estonia, the United States regularly participates in exercises such as Spring Storm, BALTOPS, and Locked Shields. Since December 2022, the United States has deployed HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems and an infantry company to Estonia. These forces are part of the near-persistent deployment of U.S. forces and capabilities to Estonia, as a part of our commitment to strengthening our collective defense and deterrence posture on NATO’s eastern flank.
