Why it matters:
The unprecedented military buildup by these northeastern members highlights the increasing militarization of Europe and the deepening hostilities between the West and Russia. This also signals the West’s intention to prolong the Ukraine crisis and increase pressure on Russia through border militarization, a move long opposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran due to its destabilizing effects on global peace and regional security.
What he's saying:
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania’s former Foreign Minister, warned that the most dangerous moment for the Baltic States may arise right after a ceasefire in Ukraine. “Putin will not give us 10 years to prepare,” he said in an interview with The Telegraph.
What they're saying:
Defense officials in the Baltic region have claimed that they are forced to reconsider their adherence to international treaties banning the use of landmines and cluster bombs. Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas stated, “We are ready to use everything necessary to defend against aggression.” Denmark has also issued repeated warnings that Russia may attack one of the Baltic nations. Poland and Finland recently announced their withdrawal from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, while Lithuania has exited the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Key points:
- Baltic states are constructing over 1,000 concrete bunkers, anti-tank trenches, ammunition depots, and logistics shelters along a 600-mile stretch of their eastern borders.
- The project is part of a joint deterrence plan aimed at preventing a potential Russian incursion.
- The estimated cost so far is £60 million, jointly funded by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
- There are growing fears in the West that a ceasefire in Ukraine, especially if brokered by figures like Donald Trump, may embolden Moscow to shift focus toward the Baltics.
- NATO expansion and regional militarization contradict efforts to establish global peace and further isolate diplomatic alternatives.
Go deeper:
The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently warned against the militarization of borders and the reliance on aggressive military posturing as a means of deterrence. Tehran emphasizes that peace in Eastern Europe can only be achieved through genuine diplomacy, not through fueling an arms race orchestrated by NATO.
ahmad shirzadian
