Debate - Opinion in English, Russia and Baltic States

Search for article or name


Back to Toni Schönfelders homepage

Toni Schönfelder A lifetime of innovation

Web library-Bookmarks, My favorites

Debate - Opinion in English
Russia and Baltic States



Tillbaka till Tonis hemsida

Mina favoritlänkar, kolla in

Debattartiklar Ryssland

TaxFree handelns vara och icke vara

Tillägnad bussbranschen av Toni Schönfelder oberoende och fri debattör

Debatt artiklar av Harald Rosén (Det gäller flyg)

Artiklar som du bara måste läsa,Vakna upp i Sverige!

Toni Schönfelder
A lifetime of innovation



Verschiedenes in Deutsch

Toni Schönfelder
A lifetime of innovation

Baltic States Membership in NATO Unlikely 30 April 2001 U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said April 23 that Russia would not be "given a veto over who is or who is not part of NATO," reported Reuters. Powell made the statement while meeting with the President of Latvia, whose country is a NATO aspirant. Powells statement, though confrontational, is simply the newest example of perennial political posturing between the governments of Russia and the United States. Despite political rhetoric supporting expansion of the alliance, next years NATO summit in Prague, Czech Republic, will not result in an invitation for the Baltic states to enter the alliance. The Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are candidates for a future round of NATO expansion. The republics hope to join the alliance just as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland did in 1999. These new aspirants also hope that NATO membership will enhance security and further integrate them into Europe. Russia, however, opposes NATO expansion for security reasons. Russia is concerned with NATOs aggressive stance as demonstrated in the 1999 NATO air attacks on Kosovo. Furthermore adding the Baltic states to the alliance isolates Russia from its Kaliningrad enclave. Besides the political rhetoric and security interests of the countries involved, some military factors do not support absorbing the Baltic states into NATO. Geographically, adding the Baltic states creates a vulnerable salient. Defending and reinforcing the region is difficult, because of the regions broad front, limited depth and restricted lines of communication. In the event of war, the Baltic states would need to be reinforced, as Russian forces would neutralize the Baltic states in their move to protect Kaliningrad and its port facilities. NATO would need to move reinforcements overland, because Kaliningrad would make air and sea resupply difficult. The road networks, developed over years of Soviet rule, favor Moscow. Limited ability to reinforce the region would allow Russia to secure the Baltic states, leaving a large number of NATO troops waiting on the beach for rescue. In addition to enhancing security and integration with Europe, the candidate states may view NATO membership much like membership in a gentlemans club. NATO membership, however, comes with a high price. Member states must meet a number of structural and doctrinal requirements to satisfy their NATO obligations. The government of Poland adopted a special law to finance the purchase of 60 new combat aircraft, a NATO requirement. The cost of the aircraft is estimated at $2.5 billion and should be paid for by 2015, reported AFP on April 24. In addition to member requirements, the alliance partners must provide infrastructure improvements and maintain bases. Not only is there an additional cost to member states, but also additional expenses for NATO as a whole. A NATO delegation began a three-day visit to Poland on April 25 to visit an airfield, air control center and a naval base that NATO plans to improve and take over. NATO is to spend $650 million to improve Polands military facilities over eight years, reported AFP on April 25. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are also attempting to enter the European Union. Here again are economic requirements. Largely though, the costs are a factor of reforming former communist economies and structures. Although Europe is helping the region with the transformation, the additional economic burden of NATO membership will place an additional strain on their economies. The topic of NATO expansion will result in Russia and the United States continuing their political rhetoric. The dialogue in this case appears meaningless. Limited military benefit, substantial military liability and the associated cost of NATO membership make expansion into the Baltic region unlikely. Furthermore, Moscow may realize that NATO wont expand for the reasons outlined. Should the allies stretch NATO into the Baltic states, Russias reaction would be serious. Barring a political motivation, the next round of NATO membership bids apparently will not go to the Baltic states.

Advertising about Spain
All kind of information about Spain in my own web page http://www.spaininformation.org

Fair use notice

The Toni Schönfelder Newsletter and website contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorised by the copyright owner. The material is being made available for purposes of education and discussion in order to better understand the complex nature of corruption in today's world. I believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in relevant national laws.

The material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use", you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Toni Schönfelder cannot guarantee that the information contained in the Corruption News service is complete and correct or be liable for any loss incurred as a result of its use. Nor can Toni Schönfelder be responsible for any subsequent use of the material.


Denna sida är producerad av Toni Schönfelder. Avsändaren har inget ansvar för innehållet i sidor som är länkade -- allt material som finns i egen producerade sidorna får användas fritt och utan kostnad.

Esta página ha sido realizada por el Sr. D. Toni Schönfelder.Los realizadores de la página no se hacen responsables del contenido de las páginas enlazadas a la presente. Toda la información existente en las páginas de realización propia pueden ser utilizadas libremente y sin ningún tipo de coste.

This page has been produced by Mr Toni Schönfelder. The sender does not take any responsibility for the contents of the linked pages. The whole material in the own produced page can be used free of charge.