In the Library of Congress in Washington held a strategic game, the scenario of which was the protection of the Baltic States from invasion from Russia, wrote in his Facebook head of the foreign Affairs Commission of Estonian Parliament Marko Mihkelson (Mihkelson Marko).
In the game held on the real map, where the chips were noted in the forces of NATO and Russia, participated research analysts at the RAND Corporation, as well as current members of the U.S. Congress from the Republican and Democratic parties.
Participants were able to assess the level of preparedness of troops to Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, and other countries of NATO to mutual defense. Addressed the issue of the level of desire of the allies of the Baltic States to help their defense, as well as timing of response to the threat.
After returning to Estonia, the MP shared his impressions on the future of US policy in the trump.
“To depart from sanctions is impossible, until positive dynamics in Eastern Ukraine. The issue of sanctions is still open — now a trump to cancel they will not” — said Mikhelson.
In the summer of 2016, the commander of US forces in Europe Lieutenant General Ben Hodges said that under current conditions, NATO could not defend the Baltic States in case of attack from Moscow.
In the fall of 2016 experts RAND published the results of their strategic games, according to which NATO will not have time to transfer to the Baltic countries enough troops — Russia, having numerical superiority in force, and the time to take Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for 3-4 days. For this reason, RAND recommended sending an additional strength of the Alliance.
At the end of 2016 — early 2017, the US began to deploy in East Europe its armoured brigade.
