Baltic states need to show strength to deter Russia, says Estonian president

‘Because we are very small countries, we have to build our defense on deterrence. As we all know, Russia only recognizes might, which means power,’ says Alar Karis

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – The Baltic states need to show strength to deter Russia, the Estonian president said on Tuesday.

"Because we are very small countries, we have to build our defense on deterrence. As we all know, Russia only recognizes might, which means power," said Alar Karis in an interview with the Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT.

"We know. We have a neighbor who has been very aggressive, not only now in Ukraine but also in the past. We forgot at some point that ambitions to grab land from neighbors are in Russia's genes,” he added.

Arguing that Russia cannot be trusted, Karis also called for security guarantees for Ukraine.

"We had a peace agreement between Estonia and Russia in 1920, but 20 years later, they invaded our country. So these peace treaties don‘t help," he said.

Kaynak:

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