The Baltic states (catch all)

[davidbfpo]

Much has happened to the three states since the last post here; a number of posts are on the Ukraine threads as all three view Russia as a 'clear and present danger'. There's also a current thread on one's states assessment of hybrid warfare and that will be merge dhere now.

This is a short commentary on one, Latvia although Lithuania and Estonia get a mention:http://strifeblog.org/2015/03/17/lat...s-left-behind/

[davidbfpo]

A short article citing Lithuania's top soldier:http://www.baltictimes.com/lithuania...WNx4Ww.twitter

[Bill Moore]

A short article citing Lithuania's top soldier:http://www.baltictimes.com/lithuania...WNx4Ww.twitter

They get it, Mao and others did the same thing to protect their states/societies against subversion.

The fifth lesson learned, according to Zukas, is that the society has to be prepared to act if there is a war. In early 2015 the Ministry of National Defence introduced a publication entitled "What We Must Know to Prepare for Extreme Situations and War". Zukas says that a joint mobilisation and civic resistance system is being developed. Public-spiritedness and patriotism are currently being promoted, and information about the Lithuanian armed forces and opportunities to undergo military training is also being advertised.

[kaur]

Estonian think tanker about Russian threat.

Moscow Lacks Available Forces to Seize and Hold Baltics, Estonian Military Expert Says

But Jaan Murumets, a senior Estonian military analyst who now works at Tallinn’s Center for Defense Studies, says that there is another reason why Russia will not invade: it lacks the available forces to seize and then hold the territory of the three countries and control their borders

http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.be/...-to-seize.html

[omarali50]

The Ukrainians have some thoughts about what could be done

http://empr.media/opinion/analytics/...imise-solution

[davidbfpo]

Well this is a surprise:

Estonian online daily, Postimees Online, has reported Germany will send rotating infantry troops to Estonia in 2016....Speaking to Postimees Online, the head of Germany’s defence committee, Hans-Peter Bartels, said: “Basically, a rotating company will be sent to three Eastern European countries for a few months, maybe for three months, to take part in exercises.”

Link:http://www.baltictimes.com/germany_w...aly5YU.twitter

Now if others followed this example that should alter Putin's calculus IMHO. IIRC of NATO's twenty-eight members only one has no military, Iceland. So twenty-seven companies divided by three Baltic states, nine companies on rotation would easily manage short tours.

[Bill Moore]

Maybe Germany is countering the so-called Intermarium proposal? See the link at omarali50's post.

NATO, EU, and U.S. need to do a better job of countering Russia propaganda regarding the Baltic states. They were independent, Estonia was fought over between Sweden and Russia (changed hands a couple of times). During WWI, the USSR signed an agreement with Germany that gave Estonia to Germany, then after Germany was defeated, Russia invaded, and the British fought a few naval battles until Russia recognized Estonia's independence. The USSR invaded again in 1940s and imposed a brutal regime (of course, it was Stalin). Then the Germans again, then the Soviets again. Neither were welcomed, in fact Estonians resisted Soviet rule well into the 1960s (resistance movement called the Forest Brothers). Bottom line is Russia's claims are illegitimate. Glad to see the new Germany stepping up.