Russia plans to increase its troops along its shared borders with NATO, Lithuania's prime minister said, and Europe needs to be prepared.
  • Russia plans to increase its troops along its border with NATO, Lithuania’s prime minister said.
  • Ingrida Šimonytė said Russia is returning to a Cold War posture and Europe needs to be prepared.
  • Estonia also warned that Russia may double its troops along NATO’s border compared to 2022 figures
  • TechNerdWizard42@lemmy.worldEnglish
    445·
    3 months ago

    It doesn’t matter if you’re pro Murica or pro Russia. It’s a bit disingenuous to say Russia is arming the border! When the border has literally moved thanks to the Nordic countries getting into NATO and no longer being neutral.

    For example if Russia and Mexico formed an alliance, then the US lined the Mexican border with guards, tanks, anti aircraft, etc… That would make defensive sense. It also would not be fair to be portrayed as “USA returning to Mexican American War of 1848 posture, tripling troop counts on the border”. No it’s a very predictable and publicly shared outcome of a very predictable and publicly occurring series of events.

    • Milk_Sheikh@lemm.eeEnglish
      221·
      3 months ago

      the border has literally moved thanks to the Nordic countries getting into NATO and no longer being neutral

      angrygoose.jpg Why are they now in NATO? It couldn’t possibly be because:

      • After decades of ‘status quo’ Nordic neutrality was respected by all sides, Russia upsets that balance by…
      • Invading Ukraine in violation of the Minsk treaty, having guaranteed Ukraine’s independence if it gave up the leftover Soviet nukes
      • Russian rhetoric from the highest level of government has regularly consisted of nuclear Sabre rattling and talk of ‘reunification’

      Given how Putin has gone complete clown show into revanchist ideology and is trying to restore the Russian Empire, it’s completely logical for the Nordics/the world to seek alliances for protection.

    • maynarkh@feddit.nlEnglish
      201·
      3 months ago

      When the border has literally moved

      The last time that border moved was back at the Winter War, when Russia attacked Finland.

        • maynarkh@feddit.nlEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          I think not. The areas lost are completely russified, it would cause more trouble than it’s worth. And European nations in general don’t see territorial conquest as a valid and non-divisive political move.

        • maynarkh@feddit.nlEnglish
          11·
          3 months ago

          NATO is a defensive alliance. Nothing changed with respect to Russian defence, just Russian offence. If Finland attacked Russia, NATO wouldn’t back them up automatically. Maybe some nations, but that was the same before the accession.

          Literally the only thing that changed is if those Russian soldiers crossed the border, it wouldn’t be only Finnish artillery pounding on them, and somehow Russia is miffed by it.

    • PrettyFlyForAFatGuyEnglish
      13·
      3 months ago

      maybe if they werent invading neighbouring nations other neighbouring nations wouldnt feel the need to seek NATO protection.

    • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.worldEnglish
      10·
      3 months ago

      Actually this makes it even worse. These countries joined NATO because they feared Russian aggression. Russia responds by… Putting soldiers on the border. Russia has basically proven the other countries had well-founded reasons to join NATO.

      You know what the correct response would have been here? Doing nothing. By taking action, they proved the Baltic states right.