Estonia achieved its main security and defense policy objective by accepting a formal invitation at Prague in November 2002 to join the NATO Alliance. It should become a full member in 2004. Accession to NATO has been included in all coalition agreements of all Estonian governments since the restoration of independence, including the present government. The same objective also is stated in the National Security Concept of the Republic of Estonia, approved by the parliament in March 2001.

The 2003 state budget allocates 2% of GDP for defense expenditures. The United States is among the countries with which Estonia has very intensive cooperation in the defense and security field.