The following is the Sept. 29, 2022, Congressional Research Service report, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania: Background and U.S.-Baltic Relations. Read More
Tag Archives: Latvia
Stronger NATO Reaction to Russian Actions in Georgia, Crimea Would Have Prevented Ukraine Invasion, Says Latvian President
Latvian Armed Forces soldiers take part in multinational training during Saber Strike 22 at Camp Adazi, Latvia, March 7, 2022. US Army Photo
The president of Latvia argued today that if NATO had reacted more strongly in 2008 to Russian aggression against neighboring Georgia and the Kremlin’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, Moscow wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine. Read More
New U.K.-Led Maritime First Responder Force Takes to Sea at BALTOPS
HMS Albion (L14) conducted officer of the watch maneuvers today (25th May 2109), in company with HNLMS Johan de Witt (L801), HDMS Absalon (L16), RFA Argus (A135), HNoMS Glimt (P964) and HNoMS Steil (P963). The maneuvers are a test for the bridge team, operating in such close proximity to the other ships in the task group. HMS Albion is currently deployed on Baltic Protector 19, the inaugural deployment of Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime). Royal Navy photo
ABOARD HMS ALBION, IN THE BALTIC SEA – The U.K. and its partners are testing out a first-responder force that could beat NATO to the punch if a crisis were to occur in Northern European waters. Read More
Panel: Moscow Could Stir Trouble in Baltics to Distract From Conflict in Ukraine
Estonian army scouts from 1st Battalion practicing their defensive maneuvers during Exercise SIIL/Steadfast Javelin in 2015. NATO Photo
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are three important U.S. allies who present a tempting target to the Kremlin to distract from Russia’s ongoing involvement in Ukraine, a panel of experts said Tuesday. Read More
Global Commitments, Trump Statements Lead to Increase in Canadian Defense Budget
Canadian soldiers storm the beach near Mayport during a UNITAS Gold amphibious assault demonstration in 2009.
Canada’s announcement to boost its defense budget by 70 percent over ten years comes after more than a decade of low spending, but also a period of intense operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere that has worn down both equipment and personnel. Read More
Panel: NATO Unprepared to Defend Baltics from Russian Attack
Estonian army scouts from 1st Battalion practicing their defensive maneuvers during Exercise SIIL/Steadfast Javelin in 2015. NATO Photo
While NATO remains unprepared to defend its most exposed states, positioning three American armored brigades in or near the Baltics would be a good first step in providing more effective deterrence against possible Russian moves, three experts in international security told the House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land subcommittee Wednesday. Read More
U.S. Marines Amass Forces, Prepositioned Gear For Saber Strike 16 With NATO Allies
A fleet of military vehicles wait pier side in preparation of Exercise Saber Strike 16 in Riga, Latvia, June 4, 2016. The vehicles were transported by a British Roll-On, Roll-Off ship from Norway for the exercise. US Marine Corps photo.
Ground forces from 13 nations are rehearsing in Latvia and Estonia amassing a large-scale force for a future crisis – from loading prepositioned equipment from caves in Norway onto a ship, to organizing the force in theater, to launching an assault. Read More
Breedlove: U.S. and Russia Need Better Communications On Tactical Nukes
Retired NATO commander Gen. Philip Breedlove on June 8, 2016. Atlantic Council Image
The U.S. needs to “establish quality communications with the Russians” to back Moscow away from implementing tactical nuclear weapons in times of crisis, the recently retired NATO commander said. Read More
Analysis: Larger NATO Baltic Sea Exercise Sends Important Message to Russia
Allied forces practice amphibious assault near Ustka, northern Poland, on 17 June 2015 as part of BALTOPS 2015. NATO Photo
Summer is exercise season in the Baltic Sea region, and one of the largest ones is BALTOPS 16, which runs between June 3 and June 18, and ranges across a considerable portion of the Baltic Sea. Read More
Author: To Predict Putin’s Future Moves, Americans Need to Understand His Past
Russian President Vladimir Putin
To understand what President Vladimir Putin may do in the future, the author of a new book on today’s Russia said Americans need to understand why and how he became a national hero by brutally suppressing separatists in Moscow’s second war in Chechnya. Read More
