Céline Bayou: Putin Could Launch Large-Scale Offensive Against Baltic States
In an interview with Le Figaro, researcher Céline Bayou warns that Vladimir Putin may initiate a large-scale military offensive against Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania if a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine. Bayou, an associate researcher at the Inalco Europe-Eurasia Research Center and author of a recent book on the Russian threat to the Baltics, argues that Moscow views the independence and NATO membership of these nations as direct security threats. She highlights two primary drivers for potential aggression: historical resentment over the loss of Soviet territories and the presence of significant Russian-speaking minorities in Estonia and Latvia, whom the Kremlin claims are mistreated. The analysis suggests that Putin is actively testing the solidity and reliability of the Atlantic Alliance. Consequently, the Baltic states harbor deep fears regarding their security and question whether NATO will remain a dependable protector in a post-Ukraine war scenario. This perspective underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions in Northern Europe and the strategic calculations facing both Russia and Western alliances as the conflict in Ukraine potentially moves toward a resolution phase.
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Céline Bayou: Putin Could Launch Large-Scale Offensive Against Baltic States
In an interview with Le Figaro, researcher Céline Bayou warns that Vladimir Putin may initiate a large-scale military offensive against Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania if a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine. Bayou, an associate researcher at the Inalco Europe-Eurasia Research Center and author of a recent book on the Russian threat to the Baltics, argues that Moscow views the independence and NATO membership of these nations as direct security threats. She highlights two primary drivers for potential aggression: historical resentment over the loss of Soviet territories and the presence of significant Russian-speaking minorities in Estonia and Latvia, whom the Kremlin claims are mistreated. The analysis suggests that Putin is actively testing the solidity and reliability of the Atlantic Alliance. Consequently, the Baltic states harbor deep fears regarding their security and question whether NATO will remain a dependable protector in a post-Ukraine war scenario. This perspective underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions in Northern Europe and the strategic calculations facing both Russia and Western alliances as the conflict in Ukraine potentially moves toward a resolution phase.
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