Estonia has once again stepped in to help secure the European Union’s eastern frontier, sending an 11-member police unit to assist Latvia in managing a sharp rise in illegal border crossings from Belarus. The move comes in response to a formal request by Latvia, which has seen a spike in unauthorized entries and increasingly aggressive behavior toward its border guards.
According to Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), the unit—named ESTPOL10—will be stationed in the southern Latvian areas of Kaplava and Robežnieki, where border pressure has been most intense. This marks the 10th time Estonia has sent personnel to the Belarusian border since the migrant crisis began in 2021.
April saw a notable increase in migrant movement across Europe’s eastern borders, with Latvia and Lithuania both reporting escalations. In response, Lithuania also deployed troops to its border with Belarus. The EU blames Belarus for encouraging these crossings in retaliation for sanctions imposed on its regime.
ESTPOL10’s primary role will be patrolling and crowd control, areas where the team has specific training. Last year, a previous Estonian unit (ESTPOL9) also operated in the same zone. Border Guard Director Veiko Kommusaar emphasized that Latvia’s border with Belarus is also a European Union and NATO border, making it essential for allied nations to stand together.
“Estonia is always ready to assist its friends and neighbours when called upon,” Kommusaar said. “Gaining experience in countering migration pressure is crucial. Although Estonia currently faces no immediate threat, that could change very quickly.”
Estonia has also ramped up domestic efforts to prevent illegal migration, reinforcing patrols in South Estonia and the Tallinn area to intercept any attempts to use the country as a transit route to the Nordic region.
So far in 2025, Latvia has prevented over 2,900 illegal border crossings, according to public broadcaster LSM. Several smugglers have been apprehended in recent weeks, further underlining the growing seriousness of the situation.
The migrants attempting to cross are largely from the Middle East and Africa. Many are believed to be using Belarus as a staging ground for entering the EU following the sharp deterioration in relations between the bloc and the Belarusian regime.
What is Estonia’s goal in this deployment?
Estonia aims to support EU and NATO partners, prevent spillover risks at home, and gain crucial experience in migration control.
By assisting Latvia, Estonia strengthens regional security, deters illegal transit through its borders, and builds expertise in handling high-pressure border situations.
If the current situation continues, Estonia is prepared to rotate in more units to support Latvia. Officials are closely monitoring developments to determine the next steps as the region faces what may become another chapter in the ongoing European migration crisis.