The Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are all members of NATO and border with Russia, are probably the ones that would benefit most from Sweden and Finland joining the defense alliance.

The Estonian capital Tallinn is only about 200 km from the Russian border and in the country there is an international NATO force under British leadership of about 1,200 men located.

- There is a clear military threat, we all know that, the situation has not been this bad in 30 years, says Kusti Salm who is State Secretary at the Estonian Ministry of Defense to SVT.

Wants to increase international NATO force

He now wants NATO to double or triple the number of troops in the international force to deter Russia.

At the same time, he notes that the Russian forces that are usually located near the Estonian border and whose normal job is to "plan an invasion of the Baltics" are now fighting in Ukraine near Kharkiv.

How would a Swedish NATO membership affect Estonia?

- It would make us very happy and be good news.

For NATO security, which also means Estonian security and security around the Baltic Sea, it would be a positive step.

Kusti Salm believes that Estonia has never been safer than now because the level of defense investment, the number of soldiers and the amount of ammunition has never been higher than now.

- We are the safest, but at the same time we have the worst security policy situation during this century, he says.

In what way could Sweden help Estonia if we became members?

- Above all, it is about joint operations on the Baltic Sea.

Which ships are moving and which are not?

We can share the military image both at sea and in the air, and if you have this awareness, you can start acting.

"Each Member State must contribute"

Estonia does not have its own combat aircraft, instead Baltic airspace is monitored by other NATO countries according to a rotating system.

Sweden and Finland both have strong air forces and could contribute to security.

- Each Member State must contribute so that we can ensure that NATO's umbrella of security covers us all, says Kusti Salm, and continues:

- The only way to deter Russia from not attacking is to radiate that we are ready from the first centimeter and from the first second.