Estonia’s Minister of Defence, Hanno Pevkur, extended a rather brisk invitation to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth – to join Nato troops for a winter training exercise and take a dip in an icy lake, ERR.ee reported on July 28.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington on July 25, following a trilateral meeting with his Latvian and Lithuanian counterparts, Pevkur referenced the sweltering summer weather before issuing his challenge.

“Let me start with an unusual remark – and with an invitation,” Pevkur said. “Come to Estonia in January, our coldest time of year, when we host the Allied exercise Winter Camp. There is a moment where we jump together with our troops into the ice-cold water. You are more than welcome to visit our troops – and yours – and to jump into the frozen lake,” ERR.ee reported.

Secretary Hegseth responded with a smile: “I’ll give you a solid maybe on the frozen lake.”

“Well, let’s see how that goes,” Pevkur laughed, ERR.ee reported.

Winter Camp (Talvelaager), held annually by the Estonian Defence Forces, is designed to prepare Nato allies – many of whom are used to more temperate climates – for operations in severe winter conditions. One of its more notorious components is an immersion into an ice hole, simulating extreme cold-weather exposure.

Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds echoed the icy invitation, encouraging Hegseth to compare winter conditions across the Baltics: “You are also welcome to Latvia to check the icy waters – to compare the waters in the three Baltic countries,” he said, ERR.ee reported.

Hegseth, slightly less enthusiastic, replied: “Very good,” ERR.ee reported.

Roughly 600 US troops are currently stationed in Estonia on a rotational basis – mostly at Reedo Barracks in Voru County. The US presence forms part of Nato’s broader deterrence posture along its eastern flank, ERR.ee reported.

As reported by bne IntelliNews, Estonia aims at increasing defence spending to 5% of GDP and securing continued support in hosting US troops.