Defend like a hedgehog
09 May 2025
On Monday, 16,000 Estonian and allied troops began the country's largest military drill to date. Despite its large scale, the operation carries the rather humble name: Exercise Hedgehog 25.
"Siil" (Estonian for hedgehog) has been the name of Estonia’s main defence exercise since 2008. It was picked for being short, memorable, and rich in meaning. Like the animal, Estonia is small but sharp, built for strong, agile defence. The hedgehog’s instinct to curl up and expose its quills mirrors Estonia’s readiness to respond swiftly and collectively to threats.
The exercise’s slogan, 'Every quill matters' (Iga okas loeb), embodies Estonia’s total defence philosophy, where everyone, from citizens to institutions, has a role in national security.
 | Emily Mirelle Vutt This isn’t just military strategy – it’s also a myth. In the Estonian national epic Kalevipoeg, the hedgehog appears as a clever advisor who helps the hero in battle and earns its signature spikes, except on its belly, where the cloth ran short. Today, the animal continues to symbolise wisdom and resilience, even being reimagined in modern art as a digital-age guardian. From folklore to field exercises, the hedgehog reminds Estonia and the world that strength isn’t always about size. Sometimes it’s about knowing when to show your quills. |
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