Adomas, maybe if the US-controlled NATO missiles were not pointed to the east provoking Russia, you would not have to be concerned for your security. We get more done by co-operation, keeping international law than by provocation.

It's no longer certain that Germany can rely on Germany for much longer: mass Muslim immigration thanks to the moron, Merkel; huge downturns in growth, thanks to unreliable energy; Germany and NATO told by Trump to start pulling their wait and stop sponging off America.

And, none of this should be of the slightest interest to Australia. Dumped by the EU and the 'mother country', Britain, we have no friends in Europe. The Brexit fiasco suggests that that part of the world is run by lunatics. We need to concentrate on preventing Australia from going the same way. To hell with Europe, which is already beyond redemption. It is there that Western civilisation started the downhill run.

I believe that the Baltic States are part of the
European Union (EU) and as such they are a small part
of a greater entity. An entity that does have a
responsibility for all its members - no matter what
challenges may lie ahead.

I believe that EU military and their allies recently
held military exercises in the Baltic States to the
displeasure of Russia. Therefore it appears that the
EU does function as an entity in response to its
neighbours.

For centuries Russia has always relied on its economic
growth by invading its neighbours. And unless it can
achieve internal economic security it will continue to
be a threat to adjoining countries - be it in Europe
or Asia. It would appear that for world security the
UN and other international bodies should take that into
account - as the Baltic States are currently doing.

The Economist tells us that - in the early 1990s
the President of the newly independent Estonia
gave a speech in Hamburg. In it he disparaged the
Soviet occupation of the Baltic States. A little
known Russian official was so outraged that he
stormed out.
It was Vladimir Putin.

This story recounted in Neil Taylor's new history
of Estonia is instructive. Mr Putin has called the
break up of the Soviet Union the "greatest
geopolitical catastrope of the (20th) century."

To Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians, that
label applies better to the Soviet Union itself.

Discussions of history often start with the phrase:
"Stalin murdered my grandparents." The sense that
this giant neighbour does not truly respect their
independence - let alone their membership of the
EU and NATO since 2004 - pervades Baltic politics
to this day.

Francesca,

Those missiles in the Baltic are probably pointing at Russian missiles pointing at the Baltic. I wonder how many are pointing and in which way ?

Joe

Hard to recall, when I've read a more risible piece of "journalistic" garbage!? Of course, Germany and Nato are going to come to the aid of the Baltic states! Because it is in their own self-interest as an absolute imperative to do so!
Alan B.