Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania see a threat from Russia that will not go away
summit on July 11th and 12th that will temporarily swell its population with thousands of soldiers, police, officials and journalists as well as 31 heads of state or government, it is not physical danger that makes locals nervous. The fear across the three Baltic states, perhaps the alliance’s most enthusiastic members, is that their bigger partners will fail to rise to the occasion.
The anxiety is understandable. Historical experience, plus proximity to a belligerent Russian regime under Vladimir Putin, put the Baltics far ahead of the curve on Ukraine. Instead of waiting for Russia’s full-scale invasion to act, the Baltic trio took sharp note of looming dangers way back in 2014 when Mr Putin made his first grabs at Ukraine’s Crimea and Donbas regions. Lithuania and, later, Latvia reintroduced conscription. Lithuania doubled and then tripled defence spending.
Yet their calls for stronger military deterrents, as well as for measures to protect European economies, were largely ignored in Berlin, Brussels and Paris. When Russian tanks rolled towards Kyiv in February 2022 there was little surprise in the Baltics, but rather a glum pride in being right. “We went from neurotics to experts overnight,” sighs Mihkel Tikk, who directs Estonia’s cyber-defence.
In the short term there is little doubt what people in the Baltic states most want: all three of their parliaments recently voted overwhelmingly forto include Ukraine as a member. But those votes were symbolic.
Privately, however, officers in the region express scepticism that such a deployment will happen soon, or even prove very effective. The massively destructive style of Russia’s Ukraine invasion suggests that small states on its periphery need not just defence, but deterrence. “A reinforcement strategy is helpful, but what we really need is a capacity to inflict strategic paralysis at depth,” says an Estonian field commander. “My capability is only at 50km range.
Belgique Dernières Nouvelles, Belgique Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Suninen, Tanak contest local rally to prepare for WRC EstoniaHyundai\u2019s Teemu Suninen and M-Sport's Ott Tanak will pilot their World Rally Championship cars in this weekend\u2019s L\u00f5una-Eesti Rally to prepare for Rally Estonia later this month.
Lire la suite »
Suninen, Tanak contest local rally to prepare for WRC EstoniaHyundai\u2019s Teemu Suninen and M-Sport's Ott Tanak will pilot their World Rally Championship cars in this weekend\u2019s L\u00f5una-Eesti Rally to prepare for Rally Estonia later this month.
Lire la suite »
Zelensky claims Russia has placed 'explosives' on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plantUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that Russian forces could have placed ‘objects resembling explosives’ on the roof of some buildings at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Lire la suite »
Russia, China and India unite against the West - but they can't hide tensionsSmiles and messages of unity cannot disguise the misgivings and often opposing agendas of the three nations, who might be regarded as fairweather friends, rather than steadfast allies 🔎 Analysis from michael2day
Lire la suite »
Vladimir Putin’s useful idiotsThe spectrum of “Useful Idiots”, a cold-war term for unwitting allies of communism, is wide. In both politics and business, despite multiple rounds of Western sanctions, Russia still has plenty of “friends”
Lire la suite »
Wagner Chief Prigozhin Is in Russia, Says Belarus PresidentThe Kremlin has refused to comment on Prigozhin’s location or movements since the abortive revolt.
Lire la suite »