“The situation with the safety of the Baltic countries has aggravated to the limit: the invasion of “unknown” drones with two -headed eagles, the rattling of Russia by Russia in the immediate vicinity of the border of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. And what is there are unconcealed threats from the Kremlin’s first persons.”, – WRITE: www.pravda.com.ua
And all this happens against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s financial support of the region and attack by Russian Russian drones. To which NATO could not react normally, pretending that it was not an attack at all, but so, provocation. All this shows that a vacuum was formed on the eastern flank of Europe. The United States was swollen, and no one is in a hurry to replace them.
Baltic representatives understand it themselves. “In this region, if America is going, Russia comes,” said the former Lithuanian ambassador to the United States, Gihimantas Pavilinos, one of 36 legislators from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who have signed a joint letter asking for Congress to ignore Trump and maintain Baltic Financing.
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And here he is wrong. The Baltic Region’s Guarantor Security, Ukraine can and should be released after the US. Baltic states, like Europe as a whole, is a reliable rear for us, which provides resources to Ukrainian defense against the Moscow Horde. If the Baltic falls, all of Europe will fall. And we cannot afford to lose the rear. For Ukraine, Vilnius is now a strategic defense point no less important than Pokrovsk.
Moreover, Ukraine is the only one who is able to protect the region without endless consultations and statements of “decisive protests” and “deep anxiety”. The Ukrainian Defense Forces for the fourth year successfully restrain the creeping Russian offensive in the Donbass and is the most powerful, most experienced and most professional army of Europe.
We will be frank, the Baltic states are not able to protect themselves for this moment. The total number of the army of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as of paper is about 50,000 servicemen: Lithuania – ~ 23 000 people, Estonia – ~ 7 700 people (including stitches), Latvia – ~ 17 250 people. In this case, not all of them are “storms” that can repel potential invasion. And they do not have in principle combat experience, unlike the Russian army.
With NATO contingents in the Baltic region, cases are even worse. On the basis of Tapo in Estonia there are about 1,700 European servicemen, mostly British. But the United Kingdom has already announced plans to reduce its contingent. NATO International Brigade in Latvia is about to bring personnel to 3,500 people only next year. And the 45th Armored Brigade of Germany in Lithuania is going to be completed up to 4,800 people in 2027.
The Baltic States have so much time. The score is not for years, but for a week. After NATO has shown that it was not able to adequately respond to the Russian threat, and the United States showed its complete disinterest in supporting European security, Russia saw its “window window” that closed next year. By missing an attack on Poland, NATO increased the risks of Russian invasion of almost 100%. As it will happen, I have already written. And I sincerely want to believe that Ukraine, together with European partners, will not allow this scenario.
What you need to do right now. To place an additional European contingent of the Member States of Decide Coalition in the Baltic States, which will be based on the Ukrainian military (up to 10 thousand people). Ukraine as the most experienced participant should coordinate and command. The operation of the operation remains behind Europe, first of all, by Scandinavia. They are most acute in the Russian threat. In parallel, NATO, primarily Poland, must move their contingents from the deep rear of Europe, close to the Belarusian border to show the Kremlin that will not allow a blitzcrig against EU members.
Ukraine must finally acknowledge that the Baltic is part of its strategic interests and to take responsibility for the security of the region. Combining the “decisive” coalitions, Scandinavia, and Baltic. In fact, having suggested that NATO and the EU “enter Ukraine”. This will be a prototype of the future pan -European army, which will provide future peace on the continent.
Oleg Dunda, MP
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