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Ed Russia Threatens Lithuania

seayakin

Graduate Poster
seayakin
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
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Russia warns NATO-member Lithuania over Kaliningrad transit

This is a disturbing threat but then I wonder what Russia would actually do? Will they try to counter with their own sanctions? Try cyber attacks (my understanding is Lithuania hits above their weight here)? It is hard for me to imagine they would try something militarily against a NATO aligned country.

Is it an empty threat?
 
Can someone change the title to "Russia threatens Lithuania" I typed wrong.
 
I think pretty much all of Russia's threats are empty threats these days. With two notable exceptions: Causing trouble in Ukraine, and nuclear retaliation. These are probably only half-empty.
 
theprestige said:
I think pretty much all of Russia's threats are empty threats these days. With two notable exceptions: Causing trouble in Ukraine, and nuclear retaliation. These are probably only half-empty.
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I agree.

One suggestion was that Russia could make a brief incursion of a kilometre or so, dig in, and make life difficult for a Baltic state and NATO but as you point out, that's likely an empty threat.
 
I can understand that it is inconvenient for Russia but, inasmuch as the materials/materiel can be transported by sea then it's hardly a blockade. I therefore wonder if they're reacting to a slap in the face rather than a substantive threat?
 
It might be an empty threat and Russia's military depleted by Ukraine but remember, Kaliningrad is one great military and naval base. In addition, it is near directly opposite Gotland, which Russia crassly threatened on TV. Russia has been breaching air space (probably to spy on Swedish response times) and has cheekily encroached Danish maritime space twice recently.

It has always been a desperate, clumsy, brutal and unsophisticated foe. Vindictive and psychopathic.
 
I merely observe in passing that there was evidence of frequent breaches of Swedish territorial waters in the 1980s, the source of which was generally thought to be the USSR although there was some debate.


And that's before we start on the airspace issue identified by Vixen.
 
theprestige said:
I think pretty much all of Russia's threats are empty threats these days. With two notable exceptions: Causing trouble in Ukraine, and nuclear retaliation. These are probably only half-empty.
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Ukraine was the one place they promised to not invade. I'd say Lithuania is pretty safe right now.
 
There's talk now of Russia cutting of electrical supplies to Lithuania (much of which apparently comes in via a line running through Belarus). Much of the pro-Russian social media is addressing this as a total blockade of the Oblast - which is isn't even close to being true. But that spin is having the desired effect, working people up into a froth. Quite a lot of talk by Russian trolls of "revoking" Lithuania's independence. :rolleyes:

Here in the real world, this was openly planned since sanctions were announced. I am guessing Lithuania and it the nations it borders already have plans to address any disruption of electrical supply originating in Russia or Belarus.
 
Russia and it's boot-lickers are throwing a pretty epic hissy fit over the Kaliningrad "blockade" (which is not a blockade at all).

So Lithuania responds - no changes to the sanctions at all, just a reminder of what the sanctions actually do:

Kaliningrad row: Lithuania accuses Russia of lying about rail 'blockade'
passengers were still able to travel freely across Lithuanian territory from Russia to Kaliningrad and only about 1% of Russian freight was affected.
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The Russian sycophants are 110% hysterical over this right now. Panic buying in the Oblast, talk of "revoking" Lithuania's independence, talk of invading Lithuania and maybe Latvia too (because one of the rail lines passes through Latvia before entering Lithuania).

For a blockage of 1% of goods, and no restrictions on passenger traffic.
 
crescent said:
Russia and it's boot-lickers are throwing a pretty epic hissy fit over the Kaliningrad "blockade" (which is not a blockade at all).

So Lithuania responds - no changes to the sanctions at all, just a reminder of what the sanctions actually do:

Kaliningrad row: Lithuania accuses Russia of lying about rail 'blockade'


The Russian sycophants are 110% hysterical over this right now. Panic buying in the Oblast, talk of "revoking" Lithuania's independence, talk of invading Lithuania and maybe Latvia too (because one of the rail lines passes through Latvia before entering Lithuania).

For a blockage of 1% of goods, and no restrictions on passenger traffic.
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Why the hell does Russia insist on holding on to Kalingrad? It is worse then useless as far economics go, and it's quite a drain on resources.
 
The Don said:
Ice free port on the Baltic ?
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Yes, but still seperated from the rest of Russia by NATO territory,
I might have been wrong on it being of little economic value, but still have problems with how viable it will be in the future.
 
Putin expects to retake the Baltic states eventually, and even if he didn't expect to, he wouldn't want to give up one inch of "sovereign Russian territory" for fear of losing face.
 
SpitfireIX said:
Putin expects to retake the Baltic states eventually, and even if he didn't expect to, he wouldn't want to give up one inch of "sovereign Russian territory" for fear of losing face.
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PUtin probably expects to retake Poland someday also.
Problem is that if tries either, very good chance Moscow might be uninhabitable until the radiation level goes down.
 
theprestige said:
Aspirationally, perhaps. Kind of hard to have a strategic port when access is mediated by two other countries.
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Apart from you can sail in to a port.

Gibraltar has spent most of it's time blockaded on the land side.
 
dudalb said:
Why the hell does Russia insist on holding on to Kalingrad? It is worse then useless as far economics go, and it's quite a drain on resources.
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It is actually a prime location. Why do you think the Germans were stripped of the former Prussia? It was seen as ever warlike and ever in control of the Baltic.
 
dudalb said:
Why the hell does Russia insist on holding on to Kalingrad? It is worse then useless as far economics go, and it's quite a drain on resources.
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Chechnya is a huge money drain for Russia, but they're still holding on to it with an iron fist.

Because it's Russia. It's their territory.
 
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