A New Iron Curtain in Europe: Estonia's Plea for Strengthened Nato Presence

As I reflect on the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine, I am reminded of the devastating consequences of war and the importance of taking decisive action to prevent further suffering. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939 left the Baltic states stranded on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain, and today, we witness a new attempt to reestablish this divide. The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly demanded an end to hostilities, but despite this, the war rages on. In this article, I will outline Estonia's plea for a strengthened Nato presence to deter Russian aggression and prevent a new Iron Curtain from emerging in Europe.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 22,000 Estonians were forcibly taken to Siberia in 1939, with half being women and a third being children.
• The Russian-Georgian war in 2008 should have served as a wake-up call for Western nations, but it was quickly forgotten.
• Estonia, along with 13 other countries, joined Nato in the past quarter of a century to protect themselves against potential Russian aggression.
• Russia's aggression threatens the entire democratic world, especially those countries closest to Russia.
• The UK battle group in Estonia is a strong and efficient one, but more military muscle is needed to deter Russian aggression.
• A permanent allied presence on Nato's eastern border is necessary to make the red line for Moscow thicker and to underline the fact that all Nato member states are equal.
• Nato's air policing mission at Estonia's Amari air base is a crucial component of the alliance's deterrence posture.
• The task of all allies is to take action now to stop Putin's war machine from rolling any further forward.

Statistics:

• Over 22,000 Estonians were forcibly taken to Siberia in 1939.
• 141 countries supported a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an end to hostilities in Ukraine.
• 14 countries, including Estonia, joined Nato in the past quarter of a century.
• 4 countries supported Russia's actions in Ukraine, while 141 called for an end to hostilities.
• The Russian military has been involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine since 2014.

Sources:

• The article does not cite specific sources, but it mentions the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939 and the Russian-Georgian war in 2008 as historical events.
• The text also references the Founding Act on Mutual Relations between Nato and Russia, signed in May 1997, which Russia has now violated.