Global tensions continue to rise and now Latvia’s intelligence service has voiced fears Russia is potentially readying an attack on NATO.
The former Soviet state is currently monitoring a major build-up of Russian military power and surveillance operations in the Baltic Sea.
Vladimir Putin is entering the fourth year of his country’s conflict with Ukraine with the odds of a peace deal or ceasefire being agreed between both countries going up and down almost day by day.
As such, the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is growing increasingly worried Moscow could soon move its sights further to the West – and it now seems the fears could be proven out.
In its latest assessment, Latvian intelligence claims Russia is boosting its military reforms and expanding surveillance activities around NATO military operations in the region.
These actions are unsuprisingly creating tensions to those counties on the Baltic Sea.
According to the report, Russia’s military ambitions include increasing its armed forces from one to 1.5 million soliders.
It has also been busy reorganising military units and bases located near Latvia’s border – but the full effects of these changes are not expected to be felt anytime soon.
For example, Russia’s Western Military District – located directly adjacent to the Latvian border – has undergone significant restructuring, creating two new strategic military axes; the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts.
It is believed this change has come in response to Finland and Sweden joining NATO over the last two years, with discotent growing in the Russian capital.
A number of incidents have also been highlighted in the report, including unauthorised airspace violations and perceived ‘aggressive’ maneuvers near NATO ships and aircraft. Latvia’s defence officials will continue to monitor these developments.
The MITDD does stress, however, that the immediate Russian threat to Latvia remains relatively low as Putin’s attention remains very much locked on the war in Ukraine. But the threat of all-out war is lingering like a bad smell.