Estonia considers itself a front-line state, a Nato member where its border guards stare across the Narva River at the Russian fortress of Ivangorod.

This tiny Baltic state, once a part of the Soviet Union, is convinced that once the fighting stops in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin will turn his attention to the Baltics, looking to bring countries like Estonia back under Moscow’s control.

To help stave off that possibility, Estonia’s government has poured money and weapons into Ukraine’s war effort, donating more than 1% of its GDP to Kyiv.

  • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org
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    6 months ago

    Estonia considers itself a front-line state, a Nato member where its border guards stare across the Narva River at the Russian fortress of Ivangorod.

    I don’t know why, but the way I read that made it sound like Estonia is Gondor. Which, now that I think about it, seems pretty apt. At least being a NATO member, if/when they call for aid, they should expect an answer.

    • hydroptic
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      6 months ago

      At least being a NATO member, if/when they call for aid, they should expect an answer.

      It’s already clear that Hungary and possibly Turkey can’t be counted on to help with Russia, and if far right parties win more elections in Europe and if Trump wins in the US (both of which seem probable), it’s unlikely they would actually step up against Russia considering that conservatives generally see them as an ally and not a threat. Russia may well test the limits of Art. 5 if Trump wins

      • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org
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        6 months ago

        That is certainly a fear I carry, yes. Unfortunately, the most I can do is vote against Trump and the US’s far-right and hope for the best.

        • hydroptic
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          6 months ago

          Same here in Finland, although at a national level we already lost and now have an extremist right wing government which has a bit of a neo-Nazi problem (and I’m talking literal neo-Nazis). The ongoing EU Parliament elections fill me with dread

      • Skua@kbin.earth
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        6 months ago

        Considering Poland’s tank fleet purchases I think you can reasonably still describe it as a state known for heavy cavalry

        • magikmw@lemm.ee
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          6 months ago

          When your flatland country gets marched on from both east and west several times you get pretty good at cavalry.