Pentagon: Russia would be able to capture Riga or Tallinn in 60 hours
The Pentagon has agreed with analysts’ views that Russia could capture Riga or Tallinn in less than three days. This was reported by the Weekly Standard.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Michael Carpenter, has agreed with a report of RAND research center which states that Russian troops would be able to seize the city of Riga in 60 hours or less.
“NATO would have a few options for further action, of which none are good. These options include an offensive action, which is associated with the risk of a nuclear escalation of the conflict. Another option would be to recognize temporary defeat,” the report said.
While at a hearing, Carpenter expressed confidence that NATO’s situation will improve by 2018.
“I don’t know how much we have improved since the RAND report came out. However, I am sure that by the end of 2017, the situation will get better. By that time, we will have an additional armored brigade combat team on the eastern flank of the Alliance,” he said.
According to Carpenter, Russia will have the benefit of time and distance if it decides to attack the Baltic countries.
“The US is currently attempting to position their forces in order to deter Russian aggression more effectively,” Carpenter added.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, in reference to Carpenter’s statements, that he does not question the defense capabilities of the member countries of the Alliance.
“NATO is willing and able to protect all allies against any threat and we are now adapting the organization of our defense,” Stoltenberg said. He stressed that the Alliance had already improved its defense capabilities to the level that they were at during the Cold War. He also reiterated the fact that further discussions on the continued improvement of defenses will be held at the upcoming NATO summit in Poland.
After the annexation of Crimea, relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated. Western countries view Russia as an aggressive country that achieves its goals by using arms.
NATO has begun an intense movement to the East. Missile defense systems are currently being built in Europe while the Alliance’s presence in the Mediterranean, Black and Baltic Seas is growing.
Russia is also actively developing its armament. In 2018, it plans to acquire the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which Western media has nicknamed the “Doomsday weapon”.