The Russians are coming . . . Well, maybe. Maybe not. But just in case, we had better be ready.

Such is life today in the former Soviet Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (among others). In Latvia specifically:

“In places where once not even border posts disturbed the landscape, earthmoving equipment is currently carving a trench down the boundary between Baltic NATO and Russian territory.” [RFE/RL’s Northern Realities, May 29, 2024.]

For decades, the free people of Latvia have lived peacefully despite the presence of the Russian bear, and its puppet Belarus, immediately next door. Many areas are primarily Russian-speaking, due to the fact that there were only Russian schools allowed prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Residents of Latvia crossed the border into Russia without difficulty in order to shop for less expensive goods, or simply to visit. Other than immigration checkpoints established to control a recent influx of illegal emigres attempting to cross from various countries across Russia and into Latvia, there were no serious issues . . . not even after Latvia’s accession to NATO some 20 years ago.

But the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have changed all of that. The Baltic nations are once more on alert.

The busiest checkpoint on Latvia’s eastern border is located at Terehova because of the highway that runs directly east from there to Moscow, and the proximity of the area to Belarus. In 2019, a fence was built to block the illegal immigrants. And now, Riga is implementing its “eastern border reinforcement plan,” which will include major military fortifications, anti-tank trenches, and the like. [RFE/RL, id.] Recruitment posters for new border guards have been placed around the village of Terehova.

Many of Latvia’s citizens still do not consider that there is an increased danger of an incursion by Russia — at least, not in the near future. Others, however, are more than a little concerned; they see the war in Ukraine — once also thought to be unlikely — as an omen of more of the same to come in Putin’s never-ending thirst for “reclaiming” the lands he delusionally believes to be his. They know that Russia’s protestations of good will are meaningless; time and time again throughout history, they have proven themselves to be, at the very least, shall we say, two-faced? . . . cunning? . . . deceptive? . . . double-dealing? . . . underhanded? . . .

At the very least.

And so the Latvians have begun their preparations for the worst-case scenario, hoping that it will never happen, but not content with blind faith.

*. *. *

In 1966, the immortal classic film “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming” [United Artists] made light of the very real, very serious geopolitical situation known as the Cold War.

But were that imaginary scenario to become a reality today, it would be no laughing matter.

Ask any Ukrainian.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/31/24