Estonian prime minister’s shock reaction to the plan to protect the Baltic states

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas reacted to the NATO plan to protect the Baltic countries with harsh criticism: “We will be completely destroyed!”

She stated that the example of Ukraine against the backdrop of the Russian invasion clearly demonstrates that the strategy of liberating the Baltic countries six months after being captured by the enemy will lead to their complete destruction. In an interview with the Financial Times, the Estonian prime minister warned that in the scenario described by the alliance, her country would simply be wiped off the face of the earth.

According to Kallas, the NATO plan implies that in the event of a Russian invasion, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will be captured within 180 days, after which the alliance forces will be able to release them. The prime minister pointed to the results of the hundred days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine:

“If you compare the size of Ukraine and the Baltic countries, this will mean the complete destruction of the countries and our culture. If you have been to Tallinn and know our old city, the centuries-old history and culture that is there – all this will be erased from the map, including our people, our nation.”

She recalled that the massacres in Bucha and other possible war crimes took place approximately 80 days after the start of the invasion. The NATO concept, which the prime minister described as “lose and then free,” doesn’t really work, she warned.

The Estonian Prime Minister said that she had been in contact with the foreign military who are based in Estonia, mostly with the British. They admitted to her that they were “not happy with the idea that they would have to die in the event of a potential Russian invasion.”

About 1,500 NATO troops (in each) are permanently stationed in the Baltic countries. The current concept of defense involves the deployment of these forces for the first reaction to an attack and preparation for the arrival of additional reinforcements.

Before the NATO summit in Madrid, the Baltic countries insist that this concept is outdated, write the FT and Bloomberg. Kallas notes that “now everyone sees – this concept of a stretched wire does not really work.” The Baltic states are calling for it to be changed to a strategy where NATO aims to protect every inch of territory from day one. The Prime Minister also asked to send divisions of troops numbering from 20,000 to 25,000 NATO soldiers to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, writes the Financial Times.

The publication spoke with a NATO official, who said the alliance “has plans to contain threats and protect all allies,” but the organization “never goes into operational details.” The FT interlocutor noted that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg “made it clear that strengthening deterrence and defense is one of the key decisions of the NATO summit next week,” and added:

“We will do more to protect every inch of allied territory at any time and against any threat. We will adapt the NATO force structure by increasing the number of forces at high readiness. We will also have more NATO forward combat formations to reinforce the battle groups in the east.”

Annalena Burbock, German Foreign Minister, said:

“The old concept of tight wire in its current form will no longer be enough. Our military exercises must reflect the new reality. And we need to respond to the fact that the entire eastern territory of the Allies is facing a new threat. We need to increase the presence of NATO in the countries of southeastern Europe “.

Berlin has proposed to Lithuania that a “reliable combat brigade” of 3,500 soldiers be established to supplement the current battalion of approximately 1,000 soldiers. Most of the military will be based in Germany and will be able to move to the Baltic countries as soon as possible, writes bb.lv

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