On NATO’s eastern flank, Latvia contends with a migration crisis orchestrated by neighbouring Belarus – The Globe and Mail

An armed guard patrols near the temporary barbed-wire fencing set up at the Latvia-Belarus border. The European Union says Belarus is flying in thousands of people from the Middle East and pushing them to cross into EU and NATO members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.Gints Ivuskans/The Globe and Mail

NATOs eastern flank at the Latvian-Belarus border is lined with new barbed-wire fencing that runs as far as the eye can see a stark symbol of the state of emergency Riga has declared for the 172-kilometre frontier.

Russias menacing of Ukraine has set off alarms in Eastern European countries that border Russia and close ally Belarus, a second territory where Moscow has been massing troops as fears of military action against Kyiv remain high.

Latvias border patrols and national guard say theyre ready for the worst-case scenario where a threat to the Baltics emerges from the chaos of war in Ukraine. It doesnt matter if it comes from Russia or Belarus or Kaliningrad. We are prepared for total defence, Colonel Gunars Vizulis with the Latvian National Guard said at a training camp for new recruits at Meza Mackevici, about 35 kilometres from the frontier with Belarus.

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But officials say the biggest challenge for Latvia right now and the reason for this new barbed-wire fence is the continuing migration crisis orchestrated by neighbouring Belarus.

Juris Kusins, Lieutenant colonel of State Border Guard of Latvia Border Latvia-Belarus at the Silene border point.Gints Ivuskans/The Globe and Mail

More than 1,500 people from countries such as Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East were intercepted by Latvian patrols in January trying to enter the country illegally from Belarus. Thats up from 1,400 attempts in December and 500 to 600 a month when this began last summer, said Lieutenant-Colonel Juris Kusins with Latvias State Border Guard.

Those caught tell Latvian authorities that the Belarusian army directed them to the border.

Col. Vizulis blames the illegal migration on Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, accusing him of political mischief. The European Union says Belarus is flying in thousands of people from the Middle East and pushing them to cross into EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

He speculated that the Belarusians are trying to exhaust the Baltic countrys resources by engineering these migrant crossings. Its tiring. We are strong and will do our best if needed but nevertheless we are a small country.

Around 130,000 Russian troops equipped with everything

from tanks and artillery to ammunition and air power are

now surrounding Ukraine on all sides.

Four NATO

multinational

battlegroups:

5,000 troops

POLAND

4,000 U.S.

troops

stationed

Donbas:

Territory

controlled by

pro-Russian

separatists

Craiova: NATOs

multinational

brigade 5,000

troops

Sevastopol:

Russian

Black Sea

Fleet HQ

Crimea:

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

graphic news, Sources: Janes; NATO, Reuters;

The New York Times; Rochan Consulting

Around 130,000 Russian troops equipped with everything

from tanks and artillery to ammunition and air power are

now surrounding Ukraine on all sides.

Four NATO

multinational

battlegroups:

5,000 troops

POLAND

4,000 U.S.

troops

stationed

Donbas:

Territory

controlled by

pro-Russian

separatists

Craiova: NATOs

multinational

brigade 5,000

troops

Sevastopol:

Russian

Black Sea

Fleet HQ

Crimea:

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

graphic news, Sources: Janes; NATO, Reuters;

The New York Times; Rochan Consulting

Around 130,000 Russian troops equipped with everything from tanks and artillery to ammunition and

air power are now surrounding Ukraine on all sides.

Four NATO multinational

battlegroups: 5,000 troops

Other military

or air instal-

lations

POLAND

4,000 U.S.

troops

stationed

Transnistria:

Russian-backed

breakaway region

of Moldova

Donbas:

Territory

controlled by

pro-Russian

separatists

Craiova: NATOs

multinational brigade

5,000 troops

Sevastopol:

Russian

Black Sea

Fleet HQ

Crimea:

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

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On NATO's eastern flank, Latvia contends with a migration crisis orchestrated by neighbouring Belarus - The Globe and Mail