Instead of a split, the North Atlantic Pact has grown by one member – Moscow’s mistake and meaning 60 hours for the Baltics.
Finland is now part of NATO. Sweden should follow soon after the problems with Turkey and Hungary are resolved. Both countries have state-of-the-art military forces and stable democratic institutions. A victory for NATO – and a geopolitical turning point.
Baltic states as Achilles heel
Why? The three Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have so far been regarded as the Achilles’ heel of the military alliance. According to a 2016 study by the renowned American RAND Institute, Russia would have the capitals of the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania under control within 60 hours in the event of a conventional attack.
The Baltic states are sandwiched between Belarus, Russia and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, better known as Königsberg. The only connection to NATO was through the Suwlaki Corridor between Lithuania and Poland, which was only a few kilometers wide. Almost impossible to defend. Local military officials liked to doubt whether the US, for example, would follow the NATO alliance in an attack on the Baltic states.
There were already signs that the heads of state of leading NATO countries, such as ex-US President Donald Trump or French head of state Emmanuel Macron, had questioned the usefulness of the alliance. The situation has changed with the accession of Finland.
But, according to security expert Simon Koschut of the University of Friedrichshafen, “such an attack was considered very unlikely even before Finland joined NATO.” “The Baltic Sea would become a kind of NATO sea,” says Koschut. The alliance would control all access. “Moreover, the common border between NATO and Russia will become many times larger. Politically, the expansion illustrates the failure of Putin’s attempt to split the West.
The neutral space in Europe is disappearing
What is worrying about this development, however, is that in the dramatically deteriorating security situation, even traditionally neutral or non-aligned countries are seeking refuge in a military alliance, and that military neutrality as a guarantee of stable relations with Moscow has lost all value. This leads to a dilemma: the neutral space in Europe disappears – and with it the possibilities for negotiations and mediation. One must hope for global mediators. “These do not necessarily have to be neutral,” says expert Koschut in the interview with “Krone”. It is much more important that the parties to the conflict trust them. For example Brazil, Indonesia and maybe even Turkey. “Even Austria would be a conceivable mediator.”
While a strong NATO guarantees Europe’s security and stability in the current situation, Europe must not give up neutrality completely.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
