Experts have warned if Vladimir Putin’s war machine marches into Europe unopposed several proud nations could be wiped out of existence forever.
The Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia all border Russian territory, with Lithuania lying directly between the Russian mainland and its naval enclave of Kaliningrad.
Last week Foreign Minister David Cameron met with his counterparts from the three nations at a summit in Munich, Germany, to discuss their concerns about a potential Kremlin-backed invasion.
NATO forces have been increasing in number in the Baltic states, with around 900 British personnel rotating on a continuous basis alongside Danish and French.
Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws defence expert Alexander Mattelaer, professor of International Security, warned: “Once Baltic territory is occupied, it is difficult to get it back.
“There is little geographical depth. They cannot temporarily cede territory in the hope of taking it back later, as Ukraine is doing.
“Their defence is based more on the ‘all or nothing’ principle. The geography does not lend itself well to territorial defence.”
Speaking last week Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, said Putin was using fear as a weapon to scare the West from acting.
He said: “Putin is playing on the fear of a nuclear disaster, however, if Ukraine loses this war, we will find ourselves in a world without security, prosperity and freedoms, and similarly, this is nothing short of a disaster.
At his meeting with David Cameron, Mr Tsahkna said that Ukraine’s victory can be achieved with the long-term commitment of Allies and partners.
He added: “If every member of the Ramstein coalition (an alliance of 54 countries) allocated 0.25 percent of their GDP annually for Ukraine’s military aid, Ukraine would win this war within a few years.”
In total, some 10,000 alliance troops are stationed in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, but Marc Thys, a retired Lieutenant General, said this force was not enough to repel an attack.
He said: “The intention was never to make this NATO presence substantial”, says Marc Thys. “It is not a question of a permanent force stationed there to immediately repel any attack from barracks.”
