Estonian PM Michal said, ‘Starting from this year, we have AI in our school curriculum. This will mean that in two years, one-third of our students and teachers will be learning how to use AI in a smart way, affecting our labour market, businesses, and opportunities.’
NEW DELHI: Estonia, a Baltic nation lauded globally for its pioneering cybersecurity framework and groundbreaking artificial intelligence initiatives, is positioning itself as a key digital partner for India. Recently, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal underlined the importance of deepening bilateral ties between the two democracies, highlighting shared interests in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and diplomatic cooperation amid ongoing geopolitical shifts.
Prime Minister Michal acknowledged India’s growing global influence, asserting, “India has been accruing power in the whole world, economically, but also politically, so we would very much appreciate that India would be pushing Russia to end aggression in Ukraine. That is the first thing.”
A CYBERSECURITY MODEL WORTH EMULATING
At the heart of Estonia’s cybersecurity prowess is the Cyber Defence League (CDL), an innovative model that integrates volunteer IT professionals, academics, and government experts into a unique public-private collaboration framework. Established under the Estonian Defence League Act, the CDL’s crisis-response capability was significantly boosted following a series of crippling Russian cyberattacks in 2007.
Highlighting the distinctiveness of this approach, Michal said, “Estonia has a robust IT sector, which is quite unusual because in many countries in Europe, the state is operating on its own, and the private sector is also operating on its own. But Estonia has this kind of model where we are working together with private companies, and it is working absolutely well, and that is why we are so strong.”
Estonia’s model, centred around robust volunteer-driven expertise sharing, has achieved notable success in cyber resilience, consistently ranking first globally in the National Cyber Security Index. Experts from NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence often cite Estonia as a global benchmark, particularly for its “security-by-design” principle, which is embedded in its digital infrastructure.
AI EDUCATION: ESTONIA’S LEAP FORWARD
Estonia’s ambitious AI Leap 2025 programme aims to revolutionise education by integrating artificial intelligence into school curricula, impacting over 20,000 students and training 3,000 teachers within the next two years. This initiative positions Estonia at the forefront of global educational innovation, collaborating with leading tech firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
Michal elaborated on this strategic vision, stating, “We have a quite ambitious and big plan with AI. Starting from this year, we have AI in our school curriculum. This will mean that in two years, one-third of our students and teachers will be learning how to use AI in a smart way, affecting our labour market, businesses, and opportunities.”
Estonia’s emphasis on AI-driven education not only aligns with its renowned educational standards but also offers significant policy lessons for India’s own educational reforms, as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and the national initiative “AI for All.”
STRENGTHENING DIGITAL TIES WITH INDIA
India and Estonia have already laid the groundwork for technological collaboration, notably through the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and Estonia’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, which covers cybersecurity and e-governance cooperation.
Recent engagements, including joint cybersecurity exercises involving over 1,500 Indian teams and the first official meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Estonian President Alar Karis in February 2025 on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris, further emphasise the growing mutual interest in technological and strategic cooperation between India and Estonia.
Prime Minister Michal highlighted cybersecurity as a key area for defence collaboration, noting Estonia’s unique strength: “On defence, cybersecurity is probably our strongest point, where we can work together. Estonia has a model where we work together with private companies, and it is working extremely well, which is why we are so strong. We have this kind of Cyber Defence League, where the private sector cooperates with the state, helping to fight cyberattacks and gaining valuable knowledge in this vibrant community.”
Estonia has also expressed keen interest in seeing India engage actively with NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), which could significantly enhance India’s capabilities against emerging cyber threats, especially those originating from China.
LESSONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIA
The potential application of Estonia’s cybersecurity framework and AI education model in India is considerable. As India continues its rapid digitalisation, Estonia’s proven strategies offer valuable blueprints, particularly for enhancing cybersecurity preparedness, bridging digital divides, and integrating cutting-edge AI solutions across education and governance.
Experts from NATO CCDCOE have notably remarked on Estonia’s approach, observing that “Estonia’s security-by-design approach is vital for democracies facing hybrid threats.” Moreover, Estonia’s AI education initiatives offer India critical insights, ensuring its youth become adept at harnessing technology rather than being overwhelmed by it.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The strategic alignment between Estonia’s digital leadership and India’s technological ambitions presents an opportunity to forge a resilient partnership. Prime Minister Michal’s forward-looking remarks underline the mutual benefits and shared aspirations of both countries in addressing contemporary global challenges through digital innovation and cooperation.
As geopolitical realities evolve, the India-Estonia digital partnership is not merely symbolic but a concrete pathway toward mutual growth, resilience, and innovation in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.
* Ashish Singh is an award-winning senior journalist with over 18 years of experience in defence and strategic affairs.