Nato needs to contain Russia's military adventurism

THE Trump administration's erstwhile appeasement of Russia is fraught with danger as it may embolden Moscow to show its military aggression in the Baltic States and Europe. Countries bordering Russia are worried, and US think tanks have been warning that US and European capability to give a military response to Moscow's future adventurism is severely limited.

The fears are all too real. The Lithuanian intelligence service warned on April 3 that Russia could attack the tiny Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - with just 24 hours' notice, leaving the West with scant ability to respond. The Lithuanian government voiced its worries in its annual threat assessment that was released to the media. Norwegian military intelligence also warned in February of increased threat from Russia.

The Soviet Union annexed the Baltic States in the 1940s, but now they are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) and the European Union. These states have been extremely worried since Russia's annexation of Crimea three years ago.