India, May 22 -- Estonia is preparing a major naval expansion worth approximately $580 million as the Baltic nation moves to purchase four new warships over the next four years amid rapidly intensifying military activity near Russia's borders.

The announcement, made by officials from the Estonian Defense Ministry, marks another significant escalation in NATO military expansion efforts across NATO's eastern flank, where governments are dramatically increasing defense budgets, expanding surveillance systems, and investing heavily in new weapons platforms following years of geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe.

According to Estonian broadcaster ERR, Gert Kaju, head of the defense readiness department at the Estonian Defense Ministry, co...