An armed guard patrols near the temporary barbed-wire fencing set up at the Latvia-Belarus border. The European Union says Belarus is flying in thousands of people from the Middle East and pushing them to cross into EU and NATO members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.Gints Ivuskans\/The Globe and Mail<\/p>\n
NATOs eastern flank at the Latvian-Belarus border is lined with new barbed-wire fencing that runs as far as the eye can see a stark symbol of the state of emergency Riga has declared for the 172-kilometre frontier.<\/p>\n
Russias menacing of Ukraine has set off alarms in Eastern European countries that border Russia and close ally Belarus, a second territory where Moscow has been massing troops as fears of military action against Kyiv remain high.<\/p>\n
Latvias border patrols and national guard say theyre ready for the worst-case scenario where a threat to the Baltics emerges from the chaos of war in Ukraine. It doesnt matter if it comes from Russia or Belarus or Kaliningrad. We are prepared for total defence, Colonel Gunars Vizulis with the Latvian National Guard said at a training camp for new recruits at Meza Mackevici, about 35 kilometres from the frontier with Belarus.<\/p>\n
Whats the latest in Russia and NATOs standoff over Ukraine? The story so far<\/p>\n
Russia accuses West of ramping up pressure by supplying Ukraine arms<\/p>\n
But officials say the biggest challenge for Latvia right now and the reason for this new barbed-wire fence is the continuing migration crisis orchestrated by neighbouring Belarus.<\/p>\n
Juris Kusins, Lieutenant colonel of State Border Guard of Latvia Border Latvia-Belarus at the Silene border point.Gints Ivuskans\/The Globe and Mail<\/p>\n
More than 1,500 people from countries such as Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East were intercepted by Latvian patrols in January trying to enter the country illegally from Belarus. Thats up from 1,400 attempts in December and 500 to 600 a month when this began last summer, said Lieutenant-Colonel Juris Kusins with Latvias State Border Guard.<\/p>\n
Those caught tell Latvian authorities that the Belarusian army directed them to the border.<\/p>\n
Col. Vizulis blames the illegal migration on Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, accusing him of political mischief. The European Union says Belarus is flying in thousands of people from the Middle East and pushing them to cross into EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.<\/p>\n
He speculated that the Belarusians are trying to exhaust the Baltic countrys resources by engineering these migrant crossings. Its tiring. We are strong and will do our best if needed but nevertheless we are a small country.<\/p>\n
Around 130,000 Russian troops equipped with everything<\/p>\n
from tanks and artillery to ammunition and air power are <\/p>\n
now surrounding Ukraine on all sides.<\/p>\n
Four NATO <\/p>\n
multinational<\/p>\n
battlegroups: <\/p>\n
5,000 troops<\/p>\n
POLAND<\/p>\n
4,000 U.S.<\/p>\n
troops<\/p>\n
stationed<\/p>\n
Donbas:<\/p>\n
Territory<\/p>\n
controlled by<\/p>\n
pro-Russian<\/p>\n
separatists<\/p>\n
Craiova: NATOs<\/p>\n
multinational <\/p>\n
brigade 5,000 <\/p>\n
troops <\/p>\n
Sevastopol:<\/p>\n
Russian<\/p>\n
Black Sea<\/p>\n
Fleet HQ<\/p>\n
Crimea:<\/p>\n
Annexed by<\/p>\n
Russia in 2014<\/p>\n
graphic news, Sources: Janes; NATO, Reuters;<\/p>\n
The New York Times; Rochan Consulting<\/p>\n
Around 130,000 Russian troops equipped with everything<\/p>\n
from tanks and artillery to ammunition and air power are <\/p>\n
now surrounding Ukraine on all sides.<\/p>\n
Four NATO <\/p>\n
multinational<\/p>\n
battlegroups: <\/p>\n
5,000 troops<\/p>\n
POLAND<\/p>\n
4,000 U.S.<\/p>\n
troops<\/p>\n
stationed<\/p>\n
Donbas:<\/p>\n
Territory<\/p>\n
controlled by<\/p>\n
pro-Russian<\/p>\n
separatists<\/p>\n
Craiova: NATOs<\/p>\n
multinational <\/p>\n
brigade 5,000 <\/p>\n
troops <\/p>\n
Sevastopol:<\/p>\n
Russian<\/p>\n
Black Sea<\/p>\n
Fleet HQ<\/p>\n
Crimea:<\/p>\n
Annexed by<\/p>\n
Russia in 2014<\/p>\n
graphic news, Sources: Janes; NATO, Reuters;<\/p>\n
The New York Times; Rochan Consulting<\/p>\n
Around 130,000 Russian troops equipped with everything from tanks and artillery to ammunition and <\/p>\n
air power are now surrounding Ukraine on all sides.<\/p>\n
Four NATO multinational<\/p>\n
battlegroups: 5,000 troops<\/p>\n
Other military<\/p>\n
or air instal-<\/p>\n
lations<\/p>\n
POLAND<\/p>\n
4,000 U.S.<\/p>\n
troops<\/p>\n
stationed<\/p>\n
Transnistria:<\/p>\n
Russian-backed<\/p>\n
breakaway region<\/p>\n
of Moldova<\/p>\n
Donbas:<\/p>\n
Territory<\/p>\n
controlled by<\/p>\n
pro-Russian<\/p>\n
separatists<\/p>\n
Craiova: NATOs<\/p>\n
multinational brigade<\/p>\n
5,000 troops <\/p>\n
Sevastopol:<\/p>\n
Russian<\/p>\n
Black Sea<\/p>\n
Fleet HQ<\/p>\n
Crimea:<\/p>\n
Annexed by<\/p>\n
Russia in 2014<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See original here: An armed guard patrols near the temporary barbed-wire fencing set up at the Latvia-Belarus border. Continue reading
\nOn NATO's eastern flank, Latvia contends with a migration crisis orchestrated by neighbouring Belarus - The Globe and Mail<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"