Five EU states border Russia and Belarus over a distance of 3646 km; NATO borders are longer by almost 196 km – this includes the border between Russia and Norway, the only one in the world entirely located north of the Arctic Circle.
However, in the public space of Latvia, there are often concerns that the Kremlin will attack precisely along "our" bilateral 270.5 kilometers...
The Clouds Are Gloomy at the Border
Last week, the Saeima held a discussion on the report from the European Commission regarding neighboring states:
"As Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine continues into its fifth year, our collective security is directly linked to the strength, resilience, and stability of the eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. There are numerous issues created by Russia and Belarus, including hybrid threats, the use of migration as a weapon, violations of airspace by drones and fighter jets, radio frequency violations, particularly jamming and spoofing of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), cyberattacks, sabotage of air traffic, ground and underwater infrastructure, as evidenced by repeated damage to underwater cables caused by foreign states, information manipulation and interference (FIMI), as well as hostile rhetoric."
Well, to be fair, all sides are doing fine with hostile rhetoric. However, what seems somewhat muted in the document from Brussels is the situation at the borders of the EU and Ukraine. Social media regularly reports on "Ukrainian dodgers" who drowned in the turbulent Carpathian river Tisza or were eaten by bears.
Fortunately, such a dramatic picture is not observed at the borders of our republic with the Russian Federation and Belarus – unless, of course, an uninvited guest from Asian and African states miscalculates the weather and waiting time in the forest and heads to Allah.
Be Fruitful and Multiply!
What the European authorities pointed out to us is the population decline in border regions. It has decreased over the decade precisely at the borders with Russia and Belarus.
"Low birth rates, an aging population, and emigration, exacerbated by increased security risks, economic decline, and uncertainty, have accelerated the outflow of young, educated, and skilled people. This has worsened the demographic decline, causing labor shortages, weakening public finances, and the cessation or reduction of essential services. If the population decline is not addressed, there is a risk that the phenomenon may become long-term and irreversible..."
Golden words! But while the "progressive" Minister of Defense Andris Spruds is arranging concrete pyramids in the upper reaches of the Daugava, he is not developing business from Old Europe’s productions in Latgale, no matter what.
So what is the matter? Bonuses need to be paid for the harm of living close to the Bloody Mordor, and for the fact that on the waves of the former LR-4, the propaganda of Lukashenko is now broadcasting. It seems that simple residents of Daugavpils and Rēzekne would even agree to the salary level of a Europarliament member – and the mayors could receive Ursula von der Leyen's salary. But they are doing one thing – she in her way, and they in theirs.
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