Doesn't matter. They're allies for Chrissake. I realize it was largely said for consumption by the choir, but I assume he gets the concept of recording devices and the Internet.
If Putin has designs on the Baltic, he just gave him not-so-tacit support.
He was directing his comments at his followers who, just like in the last election, were willing to entertain a more isolationist approach to the world and in respect to allied countries that weren't spending what they should.
I imagine Trump is a fairly reasonable guy to negotiate with when it comes to military affairs. And I'd hope that someone would explain to him that until NATO officially sponsors a consistent formula to measure how much GDP is being spent on defence - capabilities brought to the table will valued just as much as $$$ spent.
(For example, tiny country X only spends Y amount, but provides a deadly and self sufficient battlegroup to support American military operations...will get far more respect and flexibility than a bigger country spending more, but not bringing as much to the table...)
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I can almost guarantee Putin doesn't have any plans for the Baltics in terms of military conquest.
Conventionally speaking, he has his hands full in Ukrane regardless of how certain areas are doing compared to others. He doesn't have the conventional forces available to do anything outside of Ukraine for now and the immediate future.
Ukranian successes against Russia's black sea fleet have also changed the strategic dynamic for years to come, as ships don't get built & come online quickly. Especially in Russia.
With the NATO battlegroups being beefed up to brigades, plus the sheer number of fighter aircraft available to NATO compared to how many modern fighters the Russians can fly...the strategic dynamic is almost opposite that of the Cold War.
There are no Soviet hordes pushing through the Fulgan Gap because those hordes have already been killed or wounded fighting in Ukraine.
Putin knows this. He isn't stupid. He's probably one of the smartest world leaders currently in power.
He has no desire to expand Russia to include entire populations that don't want to be Russian...he'd be creating a hell for himself, and he's too smart for that.
(And if he does try a quick land grab somewhere, Poland seems perfectly fine with taking the gloves off & scrapping the Russians. As are Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. I think in Poland's case you'd actually have a hard time convincing them not to take some Russian lands & intend on holding them for good during their counter offensive...Poland is a fascinating country to watch these days)
cepa.org
