MILITARY-POLITICAL CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE NATO MEMBER STATES IN THE BALTIC REGION

Igor Tsependa

doi:10.15330/jpnu.6.2.9-16

Abstract

This article analyses a range of problems faced by the NATO member states in the Baltic region in connection with Russian aggression in Ukraine. It is indicated that the Russian Federation boosts its military presence in the Kaliningrad Oblast: it deploys advanced missile systems and armored fighting vehicles to the region, increases its military contingent and rearms its Navy in the Baltic Sea. It is stressed that Russia has violated the 1987 Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-range and Shorter-range Missiles (the INF Treaty) and in recent years has been conducting large-scale military exercises. It is pointed out that amid the growing threat from Russia, the countries of the Baltic region have to reconsider their military strategies, to join their efforts in order to prevent any possible aggression. The NATO member states, the United States of America in particular, take part in the military drills in the region. Sweden’s military cooperation with NATO and the United States of America – a controversial issue in Swedish political circles – is discussed. The question of enhancing military interaction between the members of NATO – Germany and Norway, the Unites States and Poland – is addressed too. The advantages of building collective missile defense capability in the Baltic region and taking other steps to restrain Russia’s aggressive actions are indicated.

Highlights

It is pointed out that amid the growing threat from Russia, the countries of the Baltic region have to reconsider their military strategies, to join their efforts in order to prevent any possible aggression
The hybrid war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which led to the annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and military actions on the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, has prompted the members of NATO to radically revise their defense strategy in Eastern Europe
Andrzej Duda, President of the Polish Republic, said in his interview to Bild am Sonntag, “Today, Moscow’s imperial ambitions are obvious to everyone, we must strengthen NATO’s eastern flank” [1]. He quoted the former Polish President Lech Kaczyński, who, ten years ago, commenting on the Russian aggression against Georgia, made a historical prediction, “Today Georgia, tomorrow Ukraine, the day after tomorrow the Baltic States, and perhaps, the time will come for my country, Poland” [11]

Summary

Introduction

It is pointed out that amid the growing threat from Russia, the countries of the Baltic region have to reconsider their military strategies, to join their efforts in order to prevent any possible aggression. One of the arguments used by the Unites States in order to convince their allies to support American withdrawal from the INF Treaty was that Russia deploys intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles with nuclear warheads in the Kaliningrad Oblast.

Results

Conclusion