The fact that in order to protect the Baltic countries of the Baltic States and the eastern part of Central Europe, the United States will put two heavy brigades into permanent combat readiness, the resource told 8 on April delfi.ee with reference to the Finnish media group Lännen Media.
As indicated in the material, at the disposal of these two heavy brigades is approximately 500 tanks.
It was also reported that “now 9000 new US soldiers will be constantly prepared to defend Estonia.” What this "new soldiers" are and how they differ from the old ones was not specified.
“Soldiers of the brigade will arrive in Europe from any military unit of quick response and will use the prepared heavy equipment if they have to go into battle. This is a protective measure in cases where we need to send military forces somewhere, ”explained Jack Hillmeyer, public affairs adviser to the US NATO mission, told Lännen Media. According to him, the equipment will be ready to come to the aid of "warring soldiers."
Again, it is difficult to say who was meant by "warring soldiers." It is only clear that the enemy of these "belligerents" implied the Russians. It could not be otherwise: after all, in March, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of NATO in Europe, General Philip Breedlove, declared that Russia was trying to become a world leader, and such striving limits Washington’s possibilities. In his opinion, the NATO states should use every opportunity to deter Russia's actions in Europe, since these actions "challenge" the security of the mentioned states.
On the next day, April 9, the news about 9000 New US Soldiers and a multitude of tanks was refuted.
In reality, the number of military and equipment from the United States "will be much more modest: 120 soldiers and 10 tanks," writes err.ee.
A total of 4000 soldiers and hundreds of tanks that make up the new armored brigade will be stationed in Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and the Baltic countries, according to a resource referring to the “Current Camera”.
“In accordance with the decision of the Congress, Estonia will receive one tank company. A tank company usually consists of 100 to 120 soldiers, 10 M1 Abrams tanks, 4 Bradley IFVs and support armored vehicles. Also, Estonia can count on additional support forces from the same brigade - field artillery, pontoon vehicles, reconnaissance Drones. This equipment, in the order of a nine-month rotation, will be located in all the Baltic countries in accordance with their needs, ”said Lieutenant Colonel William McNicol, head of the military cooperation department at the US Embassy.
Thus, fraternal Estonia is not threatened by American overpopulation. Moreover, hundreds of brave soldiers and a dozen tanks, symbolizing the power of the great and fearless America, would be enough to contain the “aggressive Putin”, who had long ago decided to occupy peaceful Estonia, but for some reason postponing its plans.
Agency "Sputnik Estonia" reports that Estonia will build barracks for military personnel and buildings for maintenance of equipment. To equip the military base in Tapa will take the United States: according to calculations, it will take 8-12 million dollars.
It is also reported that American soldiers and armored vehicles will arrive in Estonia in February 2017.
The large American military forces in Estonia are a long-time dream of some Tallinn politicians who believe in the “Russian threat”. These politicians are found both in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the Ministry of Defense.
In January 2014, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, Urmas Paet, declared that Estonia could accommodate At Эmari military base (50 kilometers from Tallinn), NATO air forces, including the United States.
At the same time, the allied air forces could be permanently stationed at the base.
Paet also said that the statement by Secretary of Defense Urmas Reinsalu, who spoke in favor of a permanent US military presence in Estonia, did not come as a surprise to him.
The corresponding statement was made by the Minister of Defense on January 6, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Later, the Minister of Defense confirmed that his words were understood correctly.
The question arose when discussing the situation in the Baltic region: his Reinsalu found the only one in NATO where the military-strategic balance is not in favor of the alliance.
In support of his opinion, he referred to NATO’s 2013 teachings with the participation of approximately 6 thousand people. He opposed them to the Russian-Belarusian exercises "West - 2013", which involved up to one hundred thousand soldiers (in his words).
It is curious that the Minister immediately “justified himself” slightly, noting that he did not want to look paranoid and considered the threat of military actions in the region to be very low.
Kristiina Ojuland, a member of the European Parliament, ridiculed the statement of the Estonian Minister of Defense. According to her, his wish is extremely stupid, short-sighted and even provocative: “It’s simply incredible that our defense minister says such things. A permanent presence of foreign troops would certainly not benefit the security and sovereignty of Estonia; I take this statement as provocative. ”
Where does the aspiration of the ruling circles of Estonia to get hold of American equipment and soldiers, and even in serious quantities, come from?
Analyst Sergey Orlov ("Free press") believes that the reason lies in the envy of Estonians ... for Lithuanians.
“The fact is,” he writes, “that Lithuania became the first country in the region where the American equipment does not leave, but remains after the exercise for an indefinite period. Such a surprise to the Baltic republic was presented by the commander of US ground forces in Europe, American General Ben Hodges. Of course, it’s still not about 500 tanks, but they accumulate. To begin with, five tanks M1A2 Abrams, nine Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and three Bradley command infantry fighting vehicles, four M113 armored personnel carriers with mortar systems, trucks, armored off-road vehicles Hammer - all 50 pieces of different vehicles remained in the village of Mumaychiai of the Siauliai region of Lithuania. And this happened before the decision of the US Congress to strengthen the American grouping in Eastern Europe. As a result, the Americans intend to concentrate 200 units of various equipment in Mumaychiai. It is planned to invest 5 million euros in the development of the military infrastructure of the village. ”
Probably add from themselves, following in the queue of envious - Latvians. If the Lithuanians have already accumulated enough American technology, and Estonians are preparing to take the first star-striped tanks, American super-fighters and investments in military infrastructure, then Riga is not doing very well with this. Apparently, local politicians lack paranoid intensity.
Observed and commented on Oleg Chuvakin
- especially for topwar.ru
- especially for topwar.ru