Danger in the Baltic States

For John, BLUF:  Yes, peace is not at hand.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

From World Affairs Journal we have an article by Ms Elisabeth Braw, "Mysterious Men Linked to Russia Target Lithuanian President".

Russia is conducting a political campaign against Lithuania, one of the Baltic States that the Soviet Union consumed and held on to after World War II, crushing their freedom.

And, from Reuters we have this news item from 15 January, datelined Vilnius, about a Defense Manual from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.  The article, by Mr Andrius Sytas, is headlined "Worried about Russia? Lithuania says 'Keep calm and read the war manual'"  The lede and following:

Lithuania is publishing a manual to advise its citizens on how to survive a war on its soil as concerns grow that Russia's intervention in Ukraine heralds increased assertiveness in its tiny Baltic neighbors.

"Keep a sound mind, don't panic and don't lose clear thinking," the manual explains.  "Gunshots just outside your window are not the end of the world."

The manual, which the Defence Ministry will send to libraries next week and also distribute at army events, says Lithuanians should resist foreign occupation with demonstrations and strikes, "or at least doing your job worse than usual".

In the event of invasion, the manual says Lithuanians should organize themselves through Twitter and Facebook and attempt cyber attacks against the enemy.

Lithuania spent much of the last century incorporated in Soviet Union, along with Latvia and Estonia, and upon independence in 1991 quickly sought to join the Western NATO alliance and the European Union.

It is increasingly worried about Russia, not least because of a military drill in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad last month that featured 9,000 soldiers and more than 55 naval vessels.

"The examples of Georgia and Ukraine, which both lost a part of their territory, show us that we cannot rule out a similar kind of situation here, and that we should be ready," Defence Minister Juozas Olekas told Reuters.

So, if you ever wondered about what is happening in the Ukraine and asked yourself the famous question, "What difference, at this point, does it make", the answer is that if Russia can gobble up parts of Ukraine, then President Putin may think that he could take back parts or all of the Baltic States, which the Soviet Union held for decades.

And yes, this could pull in other NATO nations, as an attack on one is an attack on all.  NATO nations?  Like Canada and the US.

Regards  —  Cliff