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The Soviet War Of Russia Essay

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The Russian military is vastly superior to that of the Baltic States (Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia) and Russia has an interest in occupying the Baltic States for strategic and political reasons. A large minority of the population of the Baltics is ethnically Russian, installed in the area after Soviet occupation of the Baltics after the Second World War. Also, Russian forces near the Baltics outnumber Baltic and NATO forces in the area. Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania, is the headquarters of Russia’s Baltic fleet (Meyer). The desired military end state for the United States is that Russia is incapable or unwilling to invade the Baltics, and the Baltics are assured of this. We are interested in how United States’ military assets may be brought to bear in order to achieve Baltic security from Russia. We assert that Baltic security may be enhanced by increasing the presence of United States military forces in the Baltics. Russia’s center of gravity is their military strength relative to the Baltic States and NATO forces stationed in the area. This center of gravity has the twin critical capabilities of the abilities to invade the Baltic States, and the ability to intimidate and influence the Baltic population. Russia’s critical requirements are a strong military, their geographic nearness to the Baltics, the element of surprise, and Nuclear weapons. Of these, their element of surprise and their relative military strength are the most

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