Vladimir Putin is getting a bit nervous and is making serious blunders as the smaller state Ukraine embarasses him on the world stage by refusing to surrender to his invasion sorry, Special Military Operation.
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Ukraine's defiance is showing up Russia and other major powers with Trump's USA for example looking ineffective and shitty. It's also encouraging other nations to take more of a stance against Russia and other world bullies including the worst - the USA.
An example is the ‘Nordic-Baltic eight’. This is a group of small northern European states that, individually, might not have much power but, collectively, are proving to be a powerful presence in the Baltic area. This is critical given Russia's interest in the Baltic Sea with its ice-free port at Baltiysk which accommodates Russia's huge naval presence in the region. The Baltic Sea is also a key maritime route and trade corridor for both Europe and Russia. It is strategically important to Russia which regularly conducts military and naval exercises in the area and uses it for underhand activities and sabotage - like anchor dragging which causes damage to pipelines and undersea cables. The Baltic sea is equally important to Europe and the neighbouring countries who depend on free access and uninterrupted supply lines for fuel, trade and communications. NATO and the ‘Nordic-Baltic eight’ are aware of Russia's activities which is causing tension and putting the countries in the area on major alert.
The ‘Nordic-Baltic eight’ countries are not subjects of Russia nor are they lackeys. Under the post war USSR they were dominated, not cowed and have a powerful record of resistance. Finland, for instance fought alone against the Soviet Union in the early 1940s and seriously embarrassed Stalin. It maintains enough well-stocked bomb shelters for its entire population - a population of 5.6 million. There are 24,000 in its armed forces but these can be rapidly mobilised into a wartime army of 180,000 with a reserve force of 870,000 trained soldiers, thanks to a system of conscription and regular reserve duty.
Sweden also has a peacetime army and a subscription system with citizens undergoing regular reserve duty. It recently mailed a booklet to 5 million households advising citizens how to act “in case of crisis and war”.
The other ‘Nordic-Baltic eight’ countries also have well-trained reservists and are prepared for national emergencies.
Nato and the European Union are following Finland and Sweden as they encourage their populations in military readiness, civil preparedness and economic defence against Russian aggression. Other EU and NATO countries are likely to adopt the same approach.
All of the ‘Nordic-Baltic eight’ countries have linked their armies to the UK and the Netherlands through the Joint Expeditionary Force, maintaining high-readiness forces that are trained to respond rapidly to crises. They are working with Nato to protect vital underwater cables and pipelines from Russian (and Chinese) sabotage efforts. They are stable politically and economically and while Poland, Italy and France are currently floundering in their political arenas, are stimulating and attracting Germany in supporting them. Who knows?
The ‘Nordic-Baltic eight’ could be the catalyst that's wanted in unifying Europe against Russian bullying and expansion and a hold-off against China and USA in their ambitions in the Arctic and Baltic areas ... and a move away from this:
