Sweden Enters NATO: a Blow to Moscow and a Boost to the Baltic Nations
(New York Times)
“Sweden formally joined NATO on Thursday, becoming its 32nd member two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and sharply bolstering, with Finland, the military alliance’s deterrent in the Baltic and North Seas. With the addition of the new Nordic member states — Finland joined last year — the president of Russia, Vladimir V. Putin, now finds himself faced with an enlarged and motivated NATO, one that is no longer dreaming of a permanent peace but instead facing years of trying to contain a newly aggressive, imperial Russia.”
—
“Sweden’s main tasks, Ms. Wieslander said, will be to help guard the Baltic and the airspace over Kaliningrad; to ensure the security of Gothenburg, which is key for resupply and reinforcements; and to serve as a staging area for American and NATO troops, with agreements for the advance positioning of equipment, ammunition, supplies and field hospitals.”
“Rootsi on ametlikult NATO liige.” - ERR
“Rootsist sai NATO 32. liikmesriik.” - Postimees
“Eesti tervitab Rootsi liitumist NATOga.” - Postimees
“Biden lubas Venemaa ees mitte kummardada.” - ERR
“A truly historic day: Sweden joins Nato.” - Radio Sweden
“Flag raising ceremony scheduled at NATO HQ for Monday.” - NATO
“Sweden is joining NATO, and it's not coming empty-handed.” - Politico
“Here's what Nato membership means for Sweden and its citizens.” - Radio Sweden
“Poll: Most think Sweden will be safer as a Nato member.” - Radio Sweden
“Hungarian President Had Signed Sweden's Bid To Join NATO.” - RFERL
“Opinion: A potent new weapon: blocking Russian oil and cargo in the Baltic Sea.” - Postimees
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EstoNews on-line:
https://estonewsoftheweek.blogspot.com/
EstoNews Dropbox archive:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1kvd04gtar6ty2b/AADCUK2J_RXcMyIYf_sjnAwoa?dl=0
Comments regarding Sweden in NATO
(New York Times)
https://nyti.ms/3T4j7tr#permid=131693246
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Friday 8. March
Eesti tajutavaid piire paisutavad vapustused mõttemaailmas
(Novaator)
“Eesti rahvas ilmus maailmakaardile enne Eesti riiki ja praegune riigipiir sai üldjoontes paika esimese maailmasõja aegu. Mõtteliselt on Eesti kaardil esile tõusnud aga just viimasel aastakümnel, mil Balti riigid ja Poola paistavad Euroopas silma Venemaa-ekspertide ja Ukraina toetajatena.”
https://novaator.err.ee/1609266474/eesti-tajutavaid-piire-paisutavad-vapustused-mottemaailmas
Siseministeerium tahab kehtestada varjendite ja varjumiskohtade nõuded
(Postimees)
“Siseministeerium tahab kehtestada varjendi rajamise kohustuse uutele ehitistele ja varjumiskoha nõuded olemasolevatele hoonetele. Siseminister Lauri Läänemetsa sõnul on oluline, et suuri samme astutaks tegelikke võimalusi ja võimekusi silmas pidades – nii, et nõuete täitmine poleks inimestele, korteriühistutele ning asutustele-ettevõtetele ebamõistlikult koormav.”
Estonia wants shelters for all buildings over 1,200 square meters
(ERR)
“These include residential, hotel, catering, office, commercial, service, entertainment, educational, health, and other public buildings. At the moment, Estonia has about 15,000 such buildings. The size of the shelter must be at least 2 percent of the area of the building.”
Eesti valmistub Ukraina eeskujul meredroonide kasutuselevõtuks
(ERR)
“Mereväe ülem kommodöör Jüri Saska sõnul on Ukraina ainus riik, kellel on reaalne ründedroonide merel kasutamise kogemus. "Nad on saanud valmis kontseptsiooni, mis näib töötavat. Selle tõestuseks on see, et Musta mere laevastik on Sevastoopolist sisuliselt ära kolinud ja väga ka selles piirkonnas ei opereeri," ütles Saska. Saska sõnul hakkavad tulevikus mehitamata ja mehitatud meresõidukid Läänemerel teineteist täiendama.”
https://www.err.ee/1609274901/eesti-valmistub-ukraina-eeskujul-meredroonide-kasutuselevotuks
“Can NATO’s Navies Avoid Swarms of Sea Drones?” - CEPA
“Meet Ukraine’s small but lethal weapon lifting morale: Unmanned sea drones packed with explosives.” - AP
Kaja Kallas Euroopa Parlamendi valimistel ei kandideeri
(ERR)
https://www.err.ee/1609276170/kaja-kallas-euroopa-parlamendi-valimistel-ei-kandideeri
“Kallas will not run for European Commission president.” - Politico
Kaja Kallas: Estonian soldiers will not go to fight in Ukraine
(ERR)
"That's why, in order not to go to war, we must make the efforts we are making to end this war in Ukraine. For this war to end in Ukraine, and that is what the Ukrainians have asked us to do. They have not asked for soldiers, they have not asked for ground troops. They have asked for ammunition, they have asked for air defense, they have asked for training of soldiers, and that is what we are doing. And they've also asked for support, the prime minister said.”
https://news.err.ee/1609273716/kallas-estonian-soldiers-will-not-go-to-fight-in-ukraine
Estonia’s GDP fell by 3%
By Sten Hankewitz, Estonian World
“Robert Müürsepp, head of the national accounts team at Statistics Estonia noted that Estonia had not experienced such a broad-based economic downturn since the bursting of the real estate bubble in 2008.”
https://estonianworld.com/business/estonias-economy-contracts-by-three-per-cent-in-2023/
“Estonia: Rebuilding The Economy.” Global Finance
“Estonia Sees 11.3% Increase in Mean Monthly Gross Wages.” - BNN
NATO liitlaste õhutõrje saabub Leetu juba sel aastal
(ERR)
“NATO liitlaste õhutõrjesüsteemide paigutamine Leetu rotatsiooni korras algab juba sel aastal ning Leedu õhuruumi hakkab kaitsma õhutõrjesüsteem Patriot, ütles riigi kaitseminister Arvydas Anušauskas. Leedu saab esimeseks Balti riigiks, kus käivitub õhutõrjesüsteemide rotatsioon.”
https://www.err.ee/1609276004/minister-nato-liitlaste-ohutorje-saabub-leetu-juba-sel-aastal
Finland reports a five-fold increase in GPS disturbances during 2023
(Yle)
“There were around 7,500 reports about GPS disruptions last year, compared to around 1,500 in 2022. However the disturbances did not significantly affect aviation safety, according to the agency.”
Lithuanian intelligence: Russia has capability to continue war in Ukraine
(ISW)
“Russian military thinkers are openly discussing how Russia can go to war against NATO in the near future. Russian General Staff Military Academy Head Colonel Vladimir Zarudnitsky claimed in a recent article in the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) journal Military Thought that the war in Ukraine could escalate into a large-scale war in Europe and that the end of hostilities in Ukraine will not lead to the end of confrontation between the West and Russia.”
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-7-2024
“Europe’s postwar era of 'blissful calm' is over: Polish PM.” - Radio Poland
“Russia’s economy is now completely driven by the war in Ukraine – it cannot afford to lose, but nor can it afford to win.” - The Conversation
“Latvian government approves EUR 300m eastern border defense plan.” - Latvian Broadcasting
“Latvia's eastern border reinforcement begins.” - Latvian Broadcasting
“Can Europe Arm Itself?” - 1945
“Nato exercises are a message to Russia.” - Yle
“Quiz: When did each country join NATO?” - Politico Europe
Thursday 7. March
Nursipalu: Ministeerium eelistab uurida endale meelepäraseid mõjusid, kohalikel on teised mured
Ülle Harju, Postimees
“Nursipalu harjutusvälja laiendamisega seoses on kohalikud rõhutanud, et lisaks Natura 2000 keskkonnauuringule ja mürauuringule tuleb uurida ka mõju inimeste elukvaliteedile, kinnisvara väärtuse vähenemisele, hinnata võõrsõdurite ja kohalike vahel tekkida võivaid konflikte (nt kultuurierinevuste ja kohalike neidudega mehkeldamise tõttu).”
—
“MTÜ Meie Nursipalu juht Maarika Niidumaa mainis lisaks vajadust uurida häiringuid, mis panevad inimesi piirkonnast pagema ning sellega seotud negatiivset mõju, mh sotsiaalmajanduslikult tugevamate lahkumine, traditsioonide ja võru keele hääbumine.”
Pro-integration attitudes increasingly widespread in Estonia
(ERR)
“According to Eda Silberg, undersecretary for cultural diversity at the Estonian Ministry of Culture, contact between people of different nationalities has increased, as has the motivation to learn Estonian.”
—
"The biggest fear was that [different] communities would no longer communicate with each other. Fortunately, this has not happened. We still do have, especially among young people, increased contact between people of different nationalities. And something we see as a positive, is that the motivation to learn Estonian has increased. We also see that active use of Estonian has improved," Silberg said. The number of people who do not speak the country's official language at all has decreased rapidly. One in five Estonian citizens of other nationalities did not speak a word of Estonian, this is now the case for only around four percent.”
https://news.err.ee/1609273332/survey-pro-integration-attitudes-increasingly-widespread-in-estonia
Euroscepticism in the Baltics
(Euronews)
“Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians overwhelmingly support the EU, which has helped usher in an era of freedom and prosperity. … But Eurosceptic views can also be found across the Baltics, distinct from the Russian speakers or extremist anti-EU parties. … A big issue throughout the region is that “certain parts of society” (? - Ed.) do not understand how the EU works.”
https://www.euronews.com/2024/03/04/from-gains-to-grumbles-euroscepticism-in-the-baltic-states
“Euroscepticism in the Baltic States.” - Latvian Institute Of International Affairs, 2017 analysis, 240 pages
“Euroscepticism and EKRE.” - Tartu University, 2019
Wednesday 6. March
Estonian officials treat Ukraine's struggle as their own
(The Insider - opinion)
“Since February 24, 2022, no country has donated a larger share of its GDP to the Ukrainian war effort than Estonia has. Given the tiny Baltic state’s Soviet-era experience of life under Moscow’s domination, that level of generosity is not difficult to understand.”
https://theins.ru/en/opinion/james-rushton/269703
Tartu’s year as a European capital of culture
(The Guardian)
“This obscure-but-fascinating enclave of eastern Europe is about to get its moment in the spotlight as one of the European capitals of culture 2024. Encompassing the city of Tartu and the surrounding region, the year-long festival is themed on the arts of survival, and will feature 1,000-plus events celebrating the Estonian way of life: its love of folklore and nature, its resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, its culture and history.”
“Welcome to ‘Soup Town’ [Supilinn]” - Fodor’s Travel in Tartu
NATO launching Nordic exercises
(Military,com | The Hill)
“With over 4,000 Finnish soldiers taking part, the Norway-led Nordic Response 2024 represents the NATO newcomer's largest ever participation in a foreign exercise, according to Finland's military. “For the first time, Finland will participate as a NATO member nation in exercising collective defense of the alliance’s regions,” the Finnish Defense Forces said in a statement. The Swedish Armed Forces said about 4,500 personnel from its air force, army and navy would take part in the drill, which is being conducted in demanding Arctic winter conditions.”
—
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4506188-nato-nordic-exercises-sweden-norway-finland/
“What Sweden Joining NATO Means For The Alliance.” - RFERL
“Swedish, Finnish troops get first taste of NATO drills.” - France24
“20,000 soldiers from 13 countries: Inside Nato’s huge drill on Putin’s doorstep.” - Metro Uk
“The ‘Military Schengen’ Era Is Here.” - Foreign Policy
- Russia’s Forever War -
 |
Interesting undated photo. Putin 'sleepover party’? https://ridl.io/ru/poslanie-ot-lobbistov/ |
Could another war begin in Europe?
(Unherd)
“The chaos in Transnistria is ripe for exploitation. … It all kicked off last week, when Transnistria adopted a resolution condemning Moldova for the “economic and political blockade” of the region. It then called on Russia, the UN, the OSCE and the EU to intervene and protect the rights of its people — around 460,000 Russians and Ukrainians and a sizable ethnic Moldovan minority.”
—
“The Transnistrians are calling for Mother Russia. It will heed their call. This is how it begins. This is how it began in Ukraine. Moscow already has troops in the region, and sources tell me that the Russians have been sneaking what they call “saboteurs” into the region on flights.”
—
“But in the end, Transnistria as a region is of little importance to Russia beyond its ability to act as a garrison station on Ukraine’s southern border. But preventing Moldova from ever joining the EU and bringing it back into a new enlarged Russia are what most counts.”
https://unherd.com/2024/03/is-putin-opening-a-second-front-in-europe/
“France and Moldova to sign defence pact amid fears of Russian destabilisation.” - Reuters
“Reports of escalating Russian hybrid operations in Moldova.” - Euromaidan
“Moldova spy chief warns new destabilisation attempts by Russia.” - Reuters
“Moldova's Foreign Minister Mihail Popșoi dismisses idea that Putin could order Russian invasion.” - Politico
“Transnistria begs Putin to ‘protect’ it against Moldova.” - Politico Europe
“Putin's Moldova Flex: Why The Time May Be Ripe For Russia To Take Transnistria.” - Worldcrunch
The High Price of Losing Ukraine
(Critical Threats)
“A Russian conquest of all of Ukraine is by no means impossible if the United States cuts off all military assistance and Europe follows suit. Such an outcome would bring a battered but triumphant Russian army right up to NATO’s border from the Black Sea to the Arctic Ocean. The Ukrainian military with Western support has destroyed nearly 90% of the Russian army that invaded in February 2022 according to US intelligence sources, but the Russians have replaced those manpower losses and are ramping up their industrial base to make good their material losses at a rate much faster than their pre-war capacity had permitted.”
https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/the-high-price-of-losing-ukraine
“Putin ally says 'Ukraine is Russia’.” - Reuters
Russian Offensive Campaign
Assessment: 5. March 2024
(ISW)
"Lithuanian intelligence assessed that Russia has the capability to continue sustaining the current tempo of its war in Ukraine and will likely have the capability to gradually expand its military capabilities in the near term.”
—
“Ukraine destroyed the Project 22160 Sergei Kotov large patrol ship of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) off the coast of the Kerch Strait on the night of March 4-5.”
—
“Russian milbloggers responded to the sinking of the Sergei Kotov by decrying the Russian military command’s lack of response to the incident and mounting a wide critique against the bureaucratic inertia of the Russian military apparatus.”
—
“The director of the Moldovan Intelligence and Security Service, Alexandru Musteata, stated on March 5 that the Kremlin has begun to conduct multi-year hybrid operations aimed at destabilizing Moldova and preventing its accession to the European Union.”
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-5-2024
“How Putin's Crackdown on Dissent Became the Hallmark of the Russian Leader’s 24 Years in Power.” - Military.com
“Putin as a figurehead for the global far-right.” - ECFR
Navalny's widow calls on Russians to stage election day protest against Putin
(France24 | The Guardian)
“In a YouTube video; Yulia Navalnaya said she had drawn hope from the huge crowds that turned out last week for the funeral of her husband, who died in an Arctic penal colony on Feb. 16. Since his burial, supporters have submerged his grave in a sea of flowers.” … “Now you all know that there are actually a lot of us, all those who love and support Alexei, who share his ideas and, as long as we have each other, it’s not over.”
—
“Russians who attended Navalny’s funeral describe their experiences.”
Meduza
“Opinion: Alexey Navalny’s example will inspire dissidents for generations to come.” - Novaya Gazeta
How Putin Controls the Russians
(Spiegel)
“Russia has reverted to a dictatorship under President Vladimir Putin. Most people in the country seem to be accepting the war against Ukraine as well as the death of opposition activist Alexei Navalny.”
—
“Putin has no reason to fear an uprising in the country. The regime has proven to be terribly stable. Most people have simply surrendered to those in power – and that doesn't have to mean that they are doing badly.”
—
“Putin has imposed wartime censorship. According to the regime, anyone who criticizes the attack on the neighboring country is slandering the army and is subject to prosecution. The censorship laws are so vaguely formulated that the security authorities can take action against just about anyone.”
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