Putin aimed at the Baltic: how to protect Europe from Russian aggression

Strengthening his power with the so -called elections, Putin increases the pressure on the Baltic countries, says Bloomberg Executive Editor Timothy O'branin in his column. Therefore, NATO needs to prepare for the reflection of aggression - Russia is clearly not going to stop in Ukraine. Having won the fictitious elections of the past weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a new warning to the event that he risks getting a direct conflict with Russia through the support of Ukraine.

Although Putin's threats are already familiar, they emphasize the need to strengthen the defense of the Baltic States: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - the most vulnerable for Russian coercion. Putin's attempts to sow instability on NATO's eastern flank have been constant in recent years.

The Russian campaign "Wars in the Gerius Zone" against the Baltic countries covers cyberattacks, energy coercion, misinformation, weapons of Russian minorities and predicted sabotage of underwater gas and energy infrastructure. During the recent provocation, the Kremlin issued a warrant for the arrest of Estonia Prime Minister Kai Callas for being able to demolish the monuments of the Soviet era in her own country.

Can the situation be exacerbated? After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the threats of the Baltic countries that were previously part of the Soviet Empire became more direct and alarm. In geographical terms, the Baltic States make up just over 4% of Europe and less than 1% of its population. But from a geopolitical point of view, this region is of great importance.

Any aggression against these democracies can potentially lead to the work of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an attack on one Alliance member will be considered as an attack on all. Russia seems to be intending to test the organization's determination.

In its new report, the Estonia Foreign Intelligence Service emphasized on the ongoing military reform of Russia, and provided a significant increase in its border with the Baltic States and Finland in preparation for a potential conflict in the next decade. Putin's ideas are rarely hidden, even if they are often misunderstood or diminished. He believes that the former Soviet republics are in the "privileged sphere of influence" of Russia.

Callas was considered a threat because she convincingly denied this doctrine: she was a leading supporter of a decisive European response to Russian aggression and insisted on increasing the production and purchase of ammunition for Ukraine. Historically, Moscow's actions in the Baltic countries have signaled the wider strategic ambitions. If this time it goes so, NATO is not fully ready.

Although the Alliance gradually increased defense on its oriental flank, its power capabilities, including ammunition preparation of land troops, integrated anti -air and missile defense and logistics systems, still insufficient for confident restraint or reflection Of course, they did not help to improve the situation). If the worst thing happens, the inability to eliminate this gap will have catastrophic consequences.

In addition to security guarantees, the unique history of the Baltic countries, which have turned from Soviet vassals into devoted members of the European Union and NATO in just 14 years, reminds everything that the event has performed in the post -war era. They were persistent defenders of democracy, freedom, as well as Western institutions and norms that Putin seeks to destroy. The diplomatic response to Putin's boasting should be unambiguous and single.

The event should continue to look for ways to strengthen and ensure sanctions against Russia. But as a result, the war in the "gray zone" was very often a prelude to aggression. NATO military presence in the region, cyber defense and protection of the critically important infrastructure of the Baltic Sea should be increased in order to repel the growing threat and reject Russia's interference in the Baltic states.