Russia’s ability to carry out provocations in the Baltic region is limited due to the war in Ukraine, Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas believes.
“As for Russia’s preparations in our region, everybody notices that Russia has allocated its entire land force potential to Ukraine, moving it to the front,” Anušauskas told the Žiniu Radijas radio on Thursday.
“It has other forces in our vicinity: aviation, missiles, tactical nuclear weapons, and the navy, but it lacks a significant part of the land force potential. With these remote means, it cannot fully carry out any provocations. This is a fact,” he stressed.
The minister’s comment followed this week’s publication by the German newspaper Bild of a military exercise scenario, where the German Army are preparing for a hybrid Russian attack on NATO’s eastern flank.
The plan outlines a detailed scenario for a potential military conflict, starting with Russia beginning a new wave of mobilisations by calling up an additional 200,000 recruits in February, then continuing to attack Ukraine, achieving victories, and launching a hybrid war against the Baltic countries toward the summer. Under this scenario, clashes would occur, and the situation would escalate.
“The key to getting out of this situation is to increase the military defence potential of each country bordering [Russia],” Anušauskas said.
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