Russia announces extraordinary missile tests close to Latvia's sea border

Public broadcasting of Latvia ^ | march 29, 17:10 | eng.lsm.lv (Latvian Public Broadcasting English-language service)

[vg0va3]

"Russia's Chief Air Traffic Control Center has informed the Latvian Civil Aviation Agency that the Russian Navy plans to conduct missile launches from 06:00 to 18:00 April 4 to 6 in the airspace above Latvia's exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea," the ministry said.

The Latvian Ministry of Defense has summoned the Russian Federation's military attache and expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, "noting that, despite the fact that international agreements do not prevent Russia from conducting such training in this territory, its actions are challenging and more likely to be considered as a demonstration of power."

Responding to the news on social media March 30, Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis said the Russian move would likely "worsen the security situation in the region".

[vg0va3]

"So, I think what President Trump did, the rest of the world followed. And it's going to make a difference. But clearly, we haven't done enough to change Russia's behavior. They're still very brazen, very emboldened, but what President Trump did with expelling these people, I think, is going to pay dividends overtime. They're beginning to be isolated. They have an economy, the size of Italy. If the president could rally the world to push back against Russian aggression, and really hit them economically, have sanctions that hit really hard, then Putin is basically going to gas station masquerading as a country."

Lindesy Graham March 27, 2018 Fox News.

[GoldenState_Rose]

I wonder how the World Cup will change things in terms of political impact ...The month-long set of festivities will open the country up to millions of happy foreign visitors, including to cities that typically get less tourists. And the country won’t feel so isolated.

This missile nonsense just doesn’t seem that sustainable.

[dfwgator]

The month-long set of festivities will open the country up to millions of happy foreign visitors, including to cities that typically get less tourists.

That's what they thought in 1980 when Moscow hosted the Summer Olympics, didn't quite work out that way.

[GoldenState_Rose]

And this time, America is not boycotting the World Cup, we just didn’t qualify. LoL

[caww]

.....International agreements do not prevent Russia from conducting such training in this territory”.....

Putin does take things up to the wire.

[dfwgator]

The thing is, a lot of US residents do follow other teams, in fact, the US accounted for the most number of fans at the last World Cup, although not all of them went there to cheer on the USMNT.

[dfwgator]

We’ll I’ll be rooting for Poland, I even have my “Polska” scarf that I bought when I visited there a few years ago.

[rrrod]

The Putin worshipping scum will not like this thread...

[aynrandfreak]

I’ve always thought that his plan was to create a contiguous border to Kaliningrad, which he could achieve via Latvia and Western Lithuania.

[thoughtomator]

If they have a problem with this they have no one to blame but themselves, for participating in multiple NATO war exercises aimed at St. Petersburg.

[thoughtomator]

The quickest way to alter Russian behavior is to put a stop to the war exercises that simulate first-strike attacks on Russia.

[vg0va3]

I bet you are right.

[vg0va3]

That makes sense. After the Russian incursion into the Ukraine. No one should practice for a Russia incursion into a NATO country.

NATO has stood by and watched during since the end of the cold war and Trump has demanded they step up their own game.

The NATO countries are now spending more on their own defense in preparation for peer competitor. That is Russia. And where would NATO practice hitting if Russia invaded a NATO country? Hanga Roa, Easter Island?

No. They are both doing what should be expected as long as Russia is holding it’s current posture. As long as Russia swings their sickle then NATO should prepare for it to eventually hit the target.

[thoughtomator]

Are you pretending not to know about Victoria Nuland and the events she precipitated there? Or do you genuinely not know?

[vg0va3]

I know who she is and what role she played at State regarding the Ukraine loans. But, please educate me to what you mean specifically.

I am always eager to learn.

[thoughtomator]

It’s Victoria Nuland’s role in Euromaidan which is the important thing.

The backdrop to all this: Hillary Clinton and Obama went from destroying Libya to unlawfully starting a war in Syria. The Russians weren’t going to let this happen unopposed, and the naval base in Sevastopol played an essential role in the Russian efforts to stymie the illegal Clinton-Obama war efforts.

In order to neutralize this base, Clinton through her deputy Nuland organized a violent coup in Ukraine, which installed a virulently anti-Russian regime. The Russians, being no fools, responded by securing then re-annexing Crimea, the location of the naval base.

The Deep Staters whose plans were foiled went ballistic and the full-scale demonization of Russia began.

Everything involving the Ukraine situation is happening in this context.

[vg0va3]

Thanks. That is useful to understand. That is why I posted the article. I want to better understand what is developing.

Lindsey spoke as if they were cornered. I am not one who wants to see a cornered bear.

It does seem that the Trump administration’s approach was somewhat different from Obama? He was much more inclined to let sleeping dogs alone.

I know he told NATO to fund their own defenses. They have stepped up to do that.However, these countries are not wanting to challenge Russia. Especially as Russia has more leverage over them than vice versa.

It would seem that Russia would be deescalating the tensions rather than saber rattling?