Baltics assessment of Russia threat 'unchanged' after CIA director's Moscow visit
"The threat posed by Russia and possible provocations against NATO must be taken seriously, and that is precisely what the allies are doing," Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told the Kyiv Independent. "We must remain vigilant, but Estonia's threat assessment has not changed."
Estonia and Latvia declared on August 27 that their overall assessment of Russia's threat remains unchanged, despite reports of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow on August 25. The CIA chief's trip sparked speculation that he was there to warn Russia against escalating actions against the Baltic states. Russia had accused the Baltics of cyberattacks, sabotage, attempts at public opinion manipulation, and aerial intrusions.
Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs both emphasized the need to remain vigilant, but also stated that their threat assessments had not changed. They emphasized that readiness for a potential threat is not the same as an immediate threat. Poland and the Baltic states were expected to discuss U.S.-Russia talks at a NATO ambassadors meeting in Brussels on August 27.
Some U.S. lawmakers called for the return of 5,000 troops to Poland and the Baltics as a deterrent measure. Tsahkna stressed that deterring Russia was in the interests of Estonia and NATO.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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