“We expected more”
Balts put pressure on Scholz because of Ukraine
2/10/2022, 9:49 p.m
At the meeting with the three Baltic heads of state, Chancellor Scholz presented the determined NATO ally. But the Russian march on the border with Ukraine is raising concerns in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia that cannot be allayed with kind words.
The three Baltic EU states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are looking for Germany’s support in view of the Russian troop deployment. The defense capability of NATO must be further strengthened on the eastern flank, said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš on the evening before a meeting with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
Nauseda praised the government’s decision to increase the Bundeswehr contingent in Lithuania. In an interview with “Welt-TV” he had previously emphasized that he was not satisfied with the issue of arms deliveries. “To be honest, we expected more.” The background is the concern of the three former Soviet republics and today’s NATO states that they would hardly be able to withstand an attack by Russia.
Chancellor Scholz with Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda (l), Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Latvia’s Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins.
(Photo: Christophe Gateau/dpa-Pool/dpa)
Karins emphasized that Germany, as the largest economy on the continent, was particularly important. Germany must therefore play a leading role in conflict resolution. The Russian threat is a long-term problem. “We have to stick together.” Latvia pays two percent of its economic output for defense, he said.
Dissatisfaction with Germany’s role in arms deliveries
The Estonian Prime Minister Kallas also pointed out that her country even put 2.4 percent of economic output in security. That is significantly more than Germany with around 1.57 percent. “A diplomatic dialogue only has a chance if there is a credible deterrent,” she warned. “We still have to do more.” Most recently, there had been resentment in Estonia because Germany had made the transfer of old NVA armored howitzers from Estonia to the Ukraine subject to a reservation.
Chancellor Scholz tried to assure the Baltics of German solidarity in a possible conflict with Russia. “We stand by your side,” he said. “We take the concerns of our allies very seriously.” That is why the Bundeswehr is significantly increasing its contingent of 500 soldiers in Lithuania. “In this critical situation, Russia should not underestimate unity and determination.”
Scholz called on Russia to contribute to relaxation after the deployment of troops on the borders of Ukraine. “De-escalation is the order of the day,” he said. “We now expect clear steps from Russia to reduce the current tensions.” Any further aggression by Russia against Ukraine would have very serious political, economic and strategic consequences.