NATO partners would be defended
US faces Lithuania after threats from Russia
06/22/2022, 00:15 am
In the conflict over the restriction of freight traffic to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, Russia is warning the people of Lithuania of “serious” consequences. As a result, the USA took a protective stance in front of its NATO partner and did not want to speculate about “Russian saber-rattling”.
In the dispute over restrictions on freight traffic to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, the United States has taken a protective stance against Lithuania. Following Moscow’s threat that Russia would “react to such hostile actions,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington stands by its “NATO allies,” including Lithuania.
Price expressly referred to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, according to which an attack on an allied country is regarded as an attack against all. He stressed that the US commitment to this article was “inevitable”.
Kaliningrad is located on the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Poland and has no direct land connection to Russia. EU member Lithuania announced last week that it would restrict rail traffic between Russia and its exclave. Goods that fall under the EU sanctions against Russia can no longer be brought by rail from Russia to Kaliningrad via Lithuania. These include above all metals, building materials, technology goods and coal.
“Russian Saber Rattle”
According to Kaliningrad governor Anton Alikhanov, 40 to 50 percent of imports could be affected by the “blockade”. As a result, the head of the National Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, announced retaliatory measures on Tuesday with “serious negative consequences for the population of Lithuania”.
“Russia will of course react to such hostile actions,” Patrushev said during a visit to Kaliningrad. “Appropriate measures are being worked out at the inter-ministerial level and will be adopted soon. They will have serious negative consequences for the people of Lithuania.” Asked about the Russian comments, Price said his government would not speculate about “Russian saber-rattling or Russian bluster.”