Europe’s leaders are scrambling. Their hastily convened security summit in Paris on Monday is proof of that.
They are still reeling from not being invited by the US to talks with Russia over the future of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he could be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin “very soon”.
Can Europe, under pressure, put political differences and domestic economic concerns aside, and come up with a united front on security spending and on Ukraine’s future, including potentially sending troops there - to force themselves a spot at the negotiating table?
They are going to try.
I’m sure he’d love to get his hands on Armenia, but that’s not a big threat to Europe.
Neither is Georgia nor Moldova.
What are you talking about? Moldova is between Ukraine and Romania.
Oh, I misinterpreted your comment then.
It’s still possible to argue that it’s “not a big deal”, though. Russia has had a constant military presence in the breakaway region of Transnistria for decades, so technically not much would change.
I didn’t say it was not a big deal. I said him taking over Armenia is not a big threat to Europe. A further incursion into Europe via Moldova is a big threat. Especially to Romania. Transnistria is between Moldova and Ukraine. That has been a threat since Russia invaded Ukraine. Invading Moldova and moving that border to Romania would make things an even bigger threat. I’m not sure why I need to explain this in such detail.
In which sense would it be a bigger threat than before?
Unlike Kaliningrad Moldova is landlocked so if Russia manages to take it, the country is not suitable as a staging point for serious military operations, because material can only reach it via air Though given their current international standing I am not sure if reinforcement that way even is a possibility at the moment or in the near future as Romania would likely close their airspace to Russia and Ukraine … is Ukraine.
If you don’t understand what being able to have a military on the border of Romania, where it is not now, is a bigger threat to Europe than the way things are now, I really do not know how to explain it to you. Maybe play a game of Risk sometime? Even if it doesn’t explain things to you, it’s a fun board game.
Sure it’s a bigger threat but by how much? 1%? 2%?
As it currently stands, Transnistria’s border is a measly 150 km away from Romania.
If you play your next game of Risk, I recommend you have a look at the size of the countries modelled in the game and compare them to real world values.
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