“For the second time this year, Russia is carrying out an unusual concentration of forces at the border with Ukraine. We are tracking heavy weapons, artillery, drones and tens of thousands of soldiers. “Any further Russian aggression against Ukraine will have a high price in terms of political and economic consequences for Russia,” Stoltenberg said.
According to the website of Ukrainska pravda, the head of the Alliance added that the concentration of Russian forces was not provoked by anything, is incomprehensible and increases the risk of incorrect assessment of the situation. Stoltenberg again called on Russia to be transparent and to reduce tensions in the region.
The Latvian minister is calling for the constant presence of US troops
Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said Russia’s deterrence required the constant presence of US troops in the country. During a visit to a NATO unit practicing Riga’s defense in the snow-covered Latvian forests, he said the Baltic country needed the constant presence of US troops and the Patriot air defense missile to deter Russia.
“We need additional international help. We would like to have a permanent (military) presence in the United States. And naval and air defense basically means moving to systems like Patriot, “the minister told Reuters.
She recalled that after the Russian annexation of Crimea and support for the separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine in spring 2014, NATO strengthened its eastern wing with four battalions sent to Poland and the Baltics in summer 2017. Moscow says it has no intention of invading the Baltics and Poland. destabilizing Europe by moving forces closer to Russia’s borders. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says NATO countries are not in immediate danger.
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In May, Russia gathered 100,000 troops at the border with Ukraine, the most since the annexation of Crimea. According to the West, the Russians are concentrating their troops near Ukraine this month as well.
The Baltics feel to be the most vulnerable part of the Alliance. Military experts say that Russia could quickly control a 60-kilometer ground corridor connecting Poland and Lithuania through its Belarusian ally, gaining ground links to its heavily fortified enclave in Kaliningrad. US troops stationed in Germany are too far away to prevent a similar attack, Reuters added.
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Hot moments at the border
The Baltic is also experiencing difficult months because it is experiencing a strong migration crisis on the border with Belarus. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg expressed support for the region during a joint visit.
The borders of the European Union and Belarus are experiencing an undeclared war of nerves between the West and the East. Brussels accuses Belarus of bringing in thousands of people from the Middle East and pushing them into an illegal transition. The Union is therefore stepping up the sanctions imposed on Belarus after last year’s disputed elections and the persecution of opponents.
The head of the European Commission brought the Baltic aid: “We are tripling the European Union’s border guard fund for Latvia, Poland and Lithuania to 200 million euros this year and next.” Electronic border security, drones and patrol cars are to be paid for. Von der Leyen also proposed setting up a Europe-wide intelligence service to combat hybrid threats.
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“There is no doubt that the Lukashenko regime and the power that supports it will continue to test the unity of the Western world and its ability to respond to and repel hybrid attacks,” said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins added: “If Russia or Belarus thought that such threats would cause a split among EU or NATO members, we see the exact opposite.”
Romancov fears Russia’s concerns are justified
“Russia is testing both the military’s readiness of the West and our political, communication readiness. After all, we also do it, “said Michael Romancov, a political geographer from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University, on the Horizon ČT24 program.
He undoubtedly justified the concerns of the Baltic states of Russia. “It is a power that has ceased to be assertive and has become an aggressive power. It occupies part of Ukrainian territory, constantly threatening to use weapons against its neighbors. “
He said that the planned establishment of a pan-European intelligence service center to combat hybrid threats could actually increase Europe’s security. “Provided it has sufficient funding, sufficient human capacity and political support.” He said political support would be the most difficult to obtain from both the European Commission and NATO, as well as at the level of individual member states.
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