Ukraine, the Baltics, Europe : This Is not the Time for NATO to Collapse

Ukraine faces the same threat from corruption that caused its 2014 revolt -- a collapsing economy and widespread cronyism. The conflict in the east costs lives and money, but at stake in Ukraine’s battle with corruption is the support of EU allies and integration with the West, says Germany's ambassador to the US, Peter Wittig. Ukraine leaders are adopting economic and political change, but haven't satisfied EU donors, the IMF or reformists. There's a professional national police force, banks caught money laundering are closed, and subsidies for gas and electric service that raised prices 400% are gone, says Anders Aslund, an economics analyst at the Atlantic Council think tank. An electronic state procurement program saves 2% of economic output. Reduced regulations and a free-floating currency will minimize Ukraine’s debt service for the next four years. ~~~~~ But, Ambassador Wittig -- of Germany, the nation providing the most financial and diplomatic aid to Ukraine since 2014 -- says enforcing the cease-fire agreement with Russia and separatists is key. In eastern Ukraine, government forces are under the worst assault from Russian-backed militants since the cease-fire began. Monitors report that last Thursday hundreds of mortar, artillery and rockets were fired at government forces from territory held by Russian-backed militants. The Ukraine Chief of General Staff told USA Today active Russian military represent 20% of the 35,000 fighters in separatist strongholds. Russia supplies arms, ammunition, fuel and money daily, according to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate of the ministry of defense. Ukraine also accuses Russia of cyberattacks -- one that temporarily forced a power plant to close in December, and another on the Kiev airport intercepted in January by Ukrainian cyber security analysts. Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose government has denied any military role in eastern Ukraine, admitted in December that his military was conducting "certain tasks" there. ~~~~~ The European Parliament hosts Ukraine this week, and they'll sign an "Administrative cooperation agreement." But while the EU plods along, Latvia is asking NATO to increase security on Europe’s eastern front to counter a growing Russian menace. Alarmed by the number and intensity of nearby Russian exercises, deployment and rhetoric, Latvia is beefing up its defenses, but it needs NATO help. Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics says : "To deter Russia in the region, NATO needs more 'boots on the ground,'" increased bigger military exercises, deployment of military equipment and strengthened air defenses. But a Thursday Atlantic Council report says military readiness of major NATO members is so deficient that some would have difficulty fielding troops in an emergency. Rinkevics says Russia sees NATO as a strategic adversary, and Putin has begun a military buildup in Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave in the mouth of the Baltic Sea that houses the Russian Baltic fleet, including Russia’s most advanced anti-aircraft missiles and ballistic missiles capable of reaching EU capitals. Russian drills near NATO borders typically end with a simulated use of nuclear weapons. Russia seems to see nuclear weapons “not as theoretical but tactical, to prevent NATO countries from responding to fulfill their obligations under NATO treaty Article 5” that calls for mutual defense, Rinkevics says : “A clear message and response...can only be that we take those issues seriously and deploy everything necessary for NATO defense.” ~~~~~ Dear readers, Latvia membership in NATO and the EU is key to its independence and security, but the migrant crisis and UK's June referendum on leaving the EU make Rinkevics “worried.” Latvia, he says, will boost defense spending and increase border guards, and it may build a border fence. NATO, the US and EU have taken in the Baltic States. Russia's aggressive acts in Ukraine and the Baltic Sea threaten Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Scandinavia -- and Europe. This is not the time to let NATO collapse into unprepared obsolescence.