Latvian Armed Forces
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Latvian Armed Forces
Does Zapad 2017 military exercise threaten the Baltic States?
Latvia is vulnerable
Latvia along with Lithuania and Estonia is at the junction of the geopolitical interests of the United States (representing NATO) and Russia. In fact Latvia has turned into a buffer zone. This position became especially acute in the time of current crisis and on the eve of the Russian-Belarusian exercise "Zapad-2017."
https://latvijaonline.wordpress.com/201 ... vulnerable
Latvia is vulnerable
Latvia along with Lithuania and Estonia is at the junction of the geopolitical interests of the United States (representing NATO) and Russia. In fact Latvia has turned into a buffer zone. This position became especially acute in the time of current crisis and on the eve of the Russian-Belarusian exercise "Zapad-2017."
https://latvijaonline.wordpress.com/201 ... vulnerable
- ArmChairCivvy
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Re: The Baltic States' Armed Forces
Russia has pledged to protect ethnic Russians, so the half of the 35% represented by them is a good insurance, no?
" thanks to NATO, 679,055 citizens of Latvia 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of age, gender and nationality, are under the gun of Russia. And they consist 35% of the total population!"
" thanks to NATO, 679,055 citizens of Latvia 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of age, gender and nationality, are under the gun of Russia. And they consist 35% of the total population!"
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
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Re: The Baltic States' Armed Forces
Latvians do not really know what is right and what is wrong. They are between two powers
- ArmChairCivvy
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Re: The Baltic States' Armed Forces
Somebody has had a real sense of humour with the symbology on this map: those for both sexes on toilet doors and "no admission".
https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2 ... ry-460.png
For Latvians it would seem that they have three "danger" signs (standing for the "from standing start" formations, like e.g. VDV). However, it is the colour code that needs reading: none of those in RED existed before 2013... and we all remember what kicked off in 2014
https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2 ... ry-460.png
For Latvians it would seem that they have three "danger" signs (standing for the "from standing start" formations, like e.g. VDV). However, it is the colour code that needs reading: none of those in RED existed before 2013... and we all remember what kicked off in 2014
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
- ArmChairCivvy
- Senior Member
- Posts: 16312
- Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:34
Re: The Baltic States' Armed Forces
One analysis concludes "crying wolf all the time — in the case of Zapad-17, for more than six months — hinders our ability to track, discuss, and react to Russia’s military prowess.
Anyway, soon we will know what happens during and after Zapad-17. The main event is about to open in a military theater near you."
From an interesting defence website http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2017/09 ... ed/140846/ as they ask for permission for Gvmnt officials to contact you when you register. Perhaps this site is meant to be an antidote to
"what we are witnessing today is not Russia excelling in the dark arts of information warfare or “hybrid warfare,” but rather that we in the West have a depressingly low understanding of the workings of great-power politics and adversarial great-power behavior. "
Anyway, soon we will know what happens during and after Zapad-17. The main event is about to open in a military theater near you."
From an interesting defence website http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2017/09 ... ed/140846/ as they ask for permission for Gvmnt officials to contact you when you register. Perhaps this site is meant to be an antidote to
"what we are witnessing today is not Russia excelling in the dark arts of information warfare or “hybrid warfare,” but rather that we in the West have a depressingly low understanding of the workings of great-power politics and adversarial great-power behavior. "
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
Re: The Baltic States' Armed Forces
If any other European country treated it's minorities like Baltic countries treated it's Russian minority- they would have pariah status like North Korea...
But considering that these are evil,evil,evil Russians- they are free to be opressed at will... And not only that, but that's not breaking of their human rights, but on the contrary, spreading of freedom and democracy.
But considering that these are evil,evil,evil Russians- they are free to be opressed at will... And not only that, but that's not breaking of their human rights, but on the contrary, spreading of freedom and democracy.
Fortune favors brave sir, said Carrot cheerfully.
What's her position about heavily armed, well prepared and overmanned armies?
Oh, noone's ever heard of Fortune favoring them, sir.
According to General Tacticus, it's because they favor themselves…
What's her position about heavily armed, well prepared and overmanned armies?
Oh, noone's ever heard of Fortune favoring them, sir.
According to General Tacticus, it's because they favor themselves…
- ArmChairCivvy
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Re: The Baltic States' Armed Forces
This thread was started with an emphasis on Latvia (why?) of the three Baltic states. So in there, this sounds quite inclusive, but gives you an option to "opt out" if you feel that the country is not worth defending:
" the defense ministry recommends giving elementary and high school students a “mandatory choice” to sign up for basic lessons and training in state defense. Second, it calls for reforming the National Guard—Latvia’s all-volunteer force, which is fully integrated with the professional military."
- the detail carries on about how the NG would be tasked to hold ground, while the pro army would do the manoeuvre warfare part
" the defense ministry recommends giving elementary and high school students a “mandatory choice” to sign up for basic lessons and training in state defense. Second, it calls for reforming the National Guard—Latvia’s all-volunteer force, which is fully integrated with the professional military."
- the detail carries on about how the NG would be tasked to hold ground, while the pro army would do the manoeuvre warfare part
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
Re: The Baltic States' Armed Forces
At mods: Are these threads to be amalgated now or remain separate?
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=68
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=435
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=360
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=284
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=66
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=64
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=68
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=435
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=360
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=284
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=66
http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=64
Re: The Baltic States' Armed Forces
This thread should be renamed for Latvia, as we don't (yet) have a Latvia thread, but the other Baltic states already do have their own specific threads.
And no, please don't go creating a new Latvia thread as this one can be used for it.
And no, please don't go creating a new Latvia thread as this one can be used for it.
- The Armchair Soldier
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Re: Latvian Armed Forces
Makes sense to me. Done.SKB wrote:This thread should be renamed for Latvia, as we don't (yet) have a Latvia thread, but the other Baltic states already do have their own specific threads.
And no, please don't go creating a new Latvia thread as this one can be used for it.
- ArmChairCivvy
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Re: Latvian Armed Forces
Stand-by to Suwalki Gap coming into focus (again).
Things have hotted up between the two southernmost Baltic states and... Belorus. There's nothing new about this between Lithuania and the Russian 'forepost' in the latter's current political constellation. But the trending of new conflicts @conflicts has picked up this:
Kyle Glen
@KyleJGlen (twitter)
The Mayor of Riga in Latvia just replaced the flag of Belarus with the 'White Red White' flag associated with opposition to Lukashenko.
Needless to say that all diplomats at both ends have already 'packed' their belongings.
Things have hotted up between the two southernmost Baltic states and... Belorus. There's nothing new about this between Lithuania and the Russian 'forepost' in the latter's current political constellation. But the trending of new conflicts @conflicts has picked up this:
Kyle Glen
@KyleJGlen (twitter)
The Mayor of Riga in Latvia just replaced the flag of Belarus with the 'White Red White' flag associated with opposition to Lukashenko.
Needless to say that all diplomats at both ends have already 'packed' their belongings.
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
Re: Latvian Armed Forces
I wonder where this is all going to end. Strong men need to be seen to be strong and if the West keeps pushing, will Belarus and Russia push back as their economies tank?
- ArmChairCivvy
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Re: Latvian Armed Forces
I have been posting onto the Russian Forces thread RE: what is the value of a fwrd-defence zone (there are no rebels in Belorus, willing to rise for Russia) vs. when will the drag of the current strongman become too much, so that also Putin will seek another internal arrangement within BelorusLord Jim wrote:will Belarus and Russia push back as their economies tank?
- funnily enough, that same strongman was trying to escape the Bearhug, by setting a goal for 80% of oil and gas coming from other sources, a lot of it supposedly flowing thru Klaipieda... a city in Lithuania. So all parts of that plan are now in the 'round' file
- what is new that Latvia has now taken the same stand as its southern neighbour
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)