Eastern European fears of a possible Russia expansion
We've seen what's happened to Crimea. And now NATO's top military commander is concerned that Moldova's separatist region might be the next to be annexed by Russia. Moldovans aren't alone in their worries. We speak with three ambassadors to Canada who are concerned Moscow may have parts of their territory in its sights....
We've seen what's happened to Crimea. And now NATO's top military commander is concerned that Moldova's separatist region might be the next to be annexed by Russia. Moldovans aren't alone in their worries. We speak with three ambassadors to Canada who are concerned Moscow may have parts of their territory in its sights.
In the mean time, General Breedlove says NATO has work to do in order to be prepared to defend its allies against any possible Russian military action. General Breedlove says he'll recommend what he calls a "reassurance package" to NATO representatives later this month. NATO has already increased air policing over the Baltics... beefed up surveillance flights in Romania and Poland... and dispatched warships to the Black Sea. But some countries in the region worry it may not be enough.
Today we were joined by representatives of three countries on the frontlines of this dispute.
Source: Google Maps
This force on the border with Ukraine has the capability to go into Ukraine if it need to or is tasked to. So we know that the force is capable. We don't know about the intent.NATO's top military commander, General Philip BreedloveAccording to NATO's top military commander, General Philip Breedlove, 40,000 or so Russian soldiers lining the border with Ukraine have the power to take over large swaths of the country in just three to five days. The question for NATO -- and all of Eastern Europe -- is whether Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to do just that ... and whether he has his eye on any other parts of the neighbourhood.
In the mean time, General Breedlove says NATO has work to do in order to be prepared to defend its allies against any possible Russian military action. General Breedlove says he'll recommend what he calls a "reassurance package" to NATO representatives later this month. NATO has already increased air policing over the Baltics... beefed up surveillance flights in Romania and Poland... and dispatched warships to the Black Sea. But some countries in the region worry it may not be enough.
Today we were joined by representatives of three countries on the frontlines of this dispute.
- Ala Beleavschi is Moldova's Ambassador to Canada. She was in our Ottawa studio.
- Ambassador Marcin Basacki is Poland's representative to Canada. He was also in Ottawa.
- Gita Kalmet is the Estonian Ambassador to Canada. She was in Toronto.
When Russia took over Crimea last month, it exposed tensions many didn't even know existed --- like that between Moldova and the unrecognized state of Transnistria. As ethnic, cultural, and national identities in Eastern Europe continue to shift... both unrecognized states and ethnic enclaves occupy important roles in the region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures after signing a treaty to incorporate Crimea into Russia, March 18, 2014.
(AP /Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Donnacha O Beachain is the Director of Research at School of Law and Government at Dublin City University. He studies post-soviet politics and unrecognized states. He was in Cambridge, UK.
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This segment was produced by The Current's Catherine Kalbfleisch and Gord Westmacott.