CAN Enhanced (Permanent?) Fwd Presence in Latvia

[ueo]

Computers make it easier for everyone to want reports, and returns for everything. Back in the day a certain amount of "I trust that this is happening" was normal, now everything is tracked and traced.

There are also far more requirements for oversight, and more hoops to jump through, so that ads layers of admin to manage those systems as well.

I wonder if all the oversight is really required or invented to justify a position or 300. We seemed to function reasonably well before micro management, inordinate required (?) reports etc etc. Trust was placed in those in the correct position with some higher guidance and trg.

 

[Fabius]

Sweden will send 'reduced battalion' to join Canadian-led NATO force in Latvia

New development. It will be interesting to see what the reduced Bn looks like in relation to the Cdn elements.

I would expect a CV90 based Bn of two Coy with a robust Cbt Sp maybe?

Edit. After looking at the Swedish Bn structures my guess is a CV90 Coy and a Leo2 Coy in the reduced Bn.

Updated information is now available.

Sweden plans to contribute to NATO's forward presence in Latvia

The Swedish Armed Forces announced on their website on 9 January that they plan to contribute army units to NATO's forward presence in Latvia. The announcement came a...

www.janes.com

Note that this Swedish force will not be an additional Bn for the Bde but rather will be a 6 month rotation of forces into the previously solely Danish Bn offset with the rotation of Danish forces.

First Swedish elements to be equipped with the AMV 8x8.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Say hello to the Baltic Maginot Line

Baltic states plan common defense zone on Russia border as security concerns mount​

Estonia to build hundreds of bunkers on eastern frontier to deter the Kremlin’s possible aggression.



Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia agreed on Friday to set up a common Baltic defense zone on their borders with Russia and Belarus amid growing security concerns.

The defense ministers of the three Baltic countries met on Friday in Riga to approve the construction of "anti-mobility defensive installations" on their eastern frontiers. They also agreed to develop missile-artillery cooperation.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stressed the need for bunkers at the border, saying: “Russia's war in Ukraine has shown that in addition to equipment, ammunition and manpower, we also need physical defensive structures at the border from the first meter to protect Estonia."

Baltic states plan common defense zone on Russia border as security concerns mount

Estonia to build hundreds of bunkers on eastern frontier to deter the Kremlin’s possible aggression.

www.politico.eu

 

[Kirkhill]

Say hello to the Baltic Maginot Line

Baltic states plan common defense zone on Russia border as security concerns mount​

Estonia to build hundreds of bunkers on eastern frontier to deter the Kremlin’s possible aggression.



Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia agreed on Friday to set up a common Baltic defense zone on their borders with Russia and Belarus amid growing security concerns.

The defense ministers of the three Baltic countries met on Friday in Riga to approve the construction of "anti-mobility defensive installations" on their eastern frontiers. They also agreed to develop missile-artillery cooperation.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stressed the need for bunkers at the border, saying: “Russia's war in Ukraine has shown that in addition to equipment, ammunition and manpower, we also need physical defensive structures at the border from the first meter to protect Estonia."

Baltic states plan common defense zone on Russia border as security concerns mount

Estonia to build hundreds of bunkers on eastern frontier to deter the Kremlin’s possible aggression.

www.politico.eu

Kind of makes sense to me. If nothing else this war, since 2014, has shown how difficult it is to breach an entrenched and fortified line. The Balts best option for holding the small amount of ground they have available is to build those defences as far forwards as they while they are not being shelled. Then keep digging and fortifying.

 

[Halifax Tar]

‘It might as well be me’: young Swedes prepare for new form of national service | Sweden | The Guardian

Historically neutral Sweden prioritises civil defence amid concerns of preparing for possible war

amp.theguardian.com

Wasn't really sure where to put this.

 

[Rifleman62]

Joint Press Conference for NATO Chiefs of Defence meeting, 18 January 2024​

 

[FJAG]

Joint Press Conference for NATO Chiefs of Defence meeting, 18 January 2024​

Boy, if anything ever needed a BLUF - "multi-domain anal?????" at around 11:59.

 

[markppcli]

Boy, if anything ever needed a BLUF - "multi-domain anal?????" at around 11:59.

Sounds like something that young lady in Kingston would offer

 

[dimsum]

Sounds like something that young lady in Kingston would offer

Would that count towards Canada’s contribution to 2% GDP?

 

[daftandbarmy]

An interesting map... it must be really cold in Latvia!

 

[markppcli]

An interesting map... it must be really cold in Latvia!

View attachment 82615

A friend told me it got down to the -20s for the certification exercise that just went on. Happily the humidity was high so it was also wet.

 

[KevinB]

An interesting map... it must be really cold in Latvia!

View attachment 82615

No wonder Russians are such dicks, they mostly live in Quebec.

 

[dapaterson]

No wonder Russians are such dicks, they mostly live in Quebec.

Texans in Libya also checks out...

 

[Spencer100]

An interesting map... it must be really cold in Latvia!

View attachment 82615

Windsor is too low it should at the level of Rome. Needs to go up a few pixels. But fun that is about at Constantinople (Istanbul) Windsor could use some culture and old buildings, plus walls may come in handy in the future.

 

[CBH99]

Kind of makes sense to me. If nothing else this war, since 2014, has shown how difficult it is to breach an entrenched and fortified line. The Balts best option for holding the small amount of ground they have available is to build those defences as far forwards as they while they are not being shelled. Then keep digging and fortifying.

I know this isn't directly responding to your post here Kirk, just thinking about what you wrote from a strategic perspective...

Do any of the Baltic states really have to worry about a Russian invasion?


Ignoring the fact that the Russian military is preoccupied with holding their ground in Ukraine, does Sweden even have to worry about Russia invading? Any bad blood there like Poland and Russia?

 

[DBNSG]

I know this isn't directly responding to your post here Kirk, just thinking about what you wrote from a strategic perspective...

Do any of the Baltic states really have to worry about a Russian invasion?


Ignoring the fact that the Russian military is preoccupied with holding their ground in Ukraine, does Sweden even have to worry about Russia invading? Any bad blood there like Poland and Russia?

I think the Baltic Countries are worried about the little Green men suddenly occupying them with lots of local help.
NATO gets confined to the Army Camps they now train out of. Stalemate. But Russia is closer.REAL close

 

[Kirkhill]

I know this isn't directly responding to your post here Kirk, just thinking about what you wrote from a strategic perspective...

Do any of the Baltic states really have to worry about a Russian invasion?


Ignoring the fact that the Russian military is preoccupied with holding their ground in Ukraine, does Sweden even have to worry about Russia invading? Any bad blood there like Poland and Russia?

Estonian–Russian territorial dispute - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Russia, Estonia expel ambassadors amid ‘destroyed’ relations

Estonia and Latvia told their Russian envoys to leave after Moscow said it was downgrading diplomatic ties with Tallinn.

www.aljazeera.com

Russia’s diplomatic clash with Europe flares in Estonia

A mutual expelling of ambassadors is putting into question the value of European countries’ diplomatic links with the Kremlin.

www.politico.eu

Russia pledges to 'react harshly' to Latvia's decision to downgrade diplomatic ties

Latvia demands from Russian ambassador to leave country by Feb. 24, recalls its ambassador from Russia by same date - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

Latvia Is Going on Offense Against Russian Culture

The Baltic nation is taking cultural cohesion into its own hands—and risking backlash.

foreignpolicy.com

Moscow and NATO could be about to clash over Russia's European exclave Kaliningrad

A new front in tensions between Russia and NATO has opened up. This time, it's over the small exclave of Kaliningrad.

www.cnbc.com

Explainer: Why Russia-Lithuania Tensions Are Rising

EU sanctions because of Ukraine war are behind blockade of goods to cut-off Russian region of Kaliningrad

www.voanews.com

All three countries have similar relations with Russia and all mirror the Polish Russian relations. Russia steam rollered them when they steam rolllered Poland in WW2. All three of them were forcibly Russified and all three have resident Russian populations that were imposed on them.

As to Sweden - Sweden has been concerned about Russia since at least the days of Gustav Adolph and Peter the Great. Finland and Estonia both used to be Swedish territories until 1720 or so.

 

[Spencer100]

I know this isn't directly responding to your post here Kirk, just thinking about what you wrote from a strategic perspective...

Do any of the Baltic states really have to worry about a Russian invasion?


Ignoring the fact that the Russian military is preoccupied with holding their ground in Ukraine, does Sweden even have to worry about Russia invading? Any bad blood there like Poland and Russia?

In the short term no. But here is the one situation that would chance everything. If by some chance the Free Kaliningrad movement succeeded that would trigger Russia into a response that invading the baltics would almost be forgone conclusion.

 

[GR66]

I know this isn't directly responding to your post here Kirk, just thinking about what you wrote from a strategic perspective...

Do any of the Baltic states really have to worry about a Russian invasion?


Ignoring the fact that the Russian military is preoccupied with holding their ground in Ukraine, does Sweden even have to worry about Russia invading? Any bad blood there like Poland and Russia?

Did anyone seriously think Russia would initiate a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022?

Russia right now is a wounded animal and its population lives in a media echo chamber where they are surrounded by NATO enemies intent on their destruction. Putin and his cronies are not just intent on maintaining power but also on returning Russia to some mythical place primacy over their former Eastern European empire.

When the Ukraine war is over (and especially if Russian apologists in the US impose a peace settlement in Ukraine) Russia will seek to rebuild its military power and learn its lessons from the war to be better prepared to continue striving to reach their objectives.

Do I think that Russia will make some kind of suicidal attack against a well prepared and united NATO? No. But they will make every effort to split NATO politically and get its members to continue ti criminally neglect their military capabilities in hopes of being able to take advantage of the West's weaknesses to expand their power and control over their former conquests.

That's why we in NATO need strong militaries and political unity to deter Russia from making any opportunistic or desperate moves.

 

[Maxman1]

Windsor is too low it should at the level of Rome. Needs to go up a few pixels. But fun that is about at Constantinople (Istanbul) Windsor could use some culture and old buildings, plus walls may come in handy in the future.