Potential of the Baltic Armed Forces

ine.org.pl 1 year ago

Zdjęcie: Chińska polityka energetyczna (12)

Analysis briefly:

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are dependent on the assistance of allies in the field of air and air safety control. The sky of the Baltic countries is guarded by the Natovian programme Baltic Air Police. The Navy of all 3 states besides remains symbolic and primarily serves to monitor the Baltic coast.
The geopolitical position in the neighbourhood of the Russian western military territory and Belarus and the limited financial, demographic and economical opportunities find the Baltics to focus on the improvement of land-based armed forces.
In order to increase the reserve and the number of trained citizens, governments in Riga and Vilnius decided to reconstruct compulsory military service. This decision was taken due to the fact that the volunteer strategy for territorial protection so far proved inadequate.
The specificity of the army of all 3 Baltic countries consists in the cooperation of professional soldiers with territorial defence, paramilitary organizations under the patronage of the Ministry of National Defence and the creation of reserves as part of compulsory military service. All these aspects interact with each another and make an chance for the Baltics to mobilise trained citizens who, in the event of a conflict, will be essential to the professional army.

The uncertain, changing global situation and the threat of direct conflict, whether a hybrid war by the Russian Federation determines the Baltic States to proceed to discuss the form and improvement of their armed forces. Land troops are a key component of the armies of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as they do not have aviation and the Navy is limited to basic coast patrolling [1]. Air Safety Control is controlled by the North Atlantic Alliance under the Baltic Air Police Programme [2]. In the issue of anti-aircraft defence, the Baltics besides stay dependent on allies. The rocket and anti-aircraft systems they have only supply a very short scope defense. Lithuania has only 2 NASAMS batteries since 2020 and they are incapable to cover possible targets specified as military or critical infrastructure. Latvia has a portable anti-aircraft RBS 70, which besides provides only symbolic defense. Estonia, after investigating in the battlefield in Ukraine portable lightning sets, decided to acquisition them [3]. The Baltic anti-aircraft defence so remains modest, and in this area they are forced to usage Natovian aid.

Joining NATO by Sweden and Finland strengthens the control of the Baltic coast, which do not have its own naval forces. In this respect, they benefit from the assistance of the Alliance's troops stationed in them.

The main existential direction of threat to all 3 states is the east border with Russia and Belarus and the western border of Lithuania with the Kölewiecki Oblast. The precedence for the Baltic states is to keep the connection with Poland through the geostrategic point – Suwalski Przesmik leading from Poland to confederate Lithuania.

In view of the above factors, the Baltic States are forced to focus on the terrestrial kind of armed forces and diversify solutions in the context of their modernisation and expansion.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have professional armies. Due to the low demographic level and the limited financial and economical potential, volunteer territorial defence formations have chosen to develop, which are an crucial part of the professional army and, in the event of a conflict, increase their combat capacity. In addition to the territorial defence troops in the Baltic States, there is besides a mandatory military service, Estonia never abolished this kind of service, while Lithuania reinstated its enlistment in 2015 and Latvia in 2023. There are differences in the organisation and size of the armed forces of the Baltic States, but these countries are seeking to proceed to strengthen cooperation in the field of joint defensive plans in the face of full-scale war and responses to possible hybrid attacks by Belarus and Russia [4].

Lithuania's land army, territorial defence and military conscription

Lithuania with the highest GDP level (US$70.97 billion) and most population (2.8 million) from all the Baltic States has chosen the widest scope of modernisation and expansion of the armed forces [5]. The Lithuanian Government in June 2019 approved the long-term improvement programme of the Lithuanian Armed Forces for the period 2019-2028. The number of professional soldiers as planned would increase from 10900 to 14500. Military volunteer territorial defence from 5400 to 6300. The number of persons appointed in compulsory military service is besides to be increased. In view of the war in Ukraine and the increase in the reconstruction and production capabilities of the Russian Federation, the Lithuanian military improvement plans were extended to form a light division by 2030. This division will not be created from scratch. Given the low capacity of the Lithuanians to grow the personnel of the soldiers, they plan to combine 3 existing brigades with the recently established armored battalion. This battalion has 54 tanks. Most likely it would be Leopardy 2A5, method wagons and assault bridges liable for logistics needs [6]. This is fresh in the Baltic States due to the fact that they do not have their armored forces. In fact, after forming an additional armored battalion and combining it with the another brigades, the number of Lithuanian land army should be 17,5,000 soldiers. The majority of Lithuania's land troops after this improvement would be concentrated in 1 division [7]. Currently, the number of soldiers and professional officers is 11,733, with 5407 women and men serving in territorial defence troops, and, in the event of a conflict, Lithuania is besides based on 38,000 active reserves and around 80,000 trained reserve soldiers up to the age of 60.

Due to limited defence funds, territorial defence formations play an crucial function in Lithuanian land forces. They are an integral part of the land troops. The territorials are divided into six districts (Alytusa, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Pożeż, Siauliai, Vilnius). This volunteer formation was intended to train the active reserve, but due to the increased threat in the region to grow the conscription, it was decided to return compulsory military service. In view of the needs of the Lithuanian armed forces, the number of volunteers from the WOT was insufficient. Lithuanian territorial defence training is conducted on weekends of 20 to 50 days a year. A volunteer may be called up to 7 days without prior notification. For participation in trainings for each day he receives a salary. The Lithuanian WOT troops are to prepare volunteers for combat preparedness in the field of anti-tank and urban combat, interoperability with the state's professional and Natovian troops and combat natural disasters. In Lithuania, he besides operates a paramilitary “Shoot” organization, which may be complementary to territorial defence and the professional army during the crisis or conflict. The number of this formation is 11,000 members. The main subject of their training is the Partisan fight in a wooded area [8].

The general military service was reinstated in Lithuania in 2015 after the annexation of Crimea and following the outbreak of the separatist war conducted by Russia in the east of Ukraine. Ultimately, Vilnius wants to accomplish a military capacity of 9.1 1000 men each year. The number of active reserves is expected to be 47 000 by 2030. Military service besides applies to students who may undergo 3 years of sub-commissioned training on a weekend basis or join the National Reserve Forces. The Lithuanian Government besides introduced financial benefits for those serving, specified as the anticipation of having a free course for driving, the wage between 7 and 9 months of service is tripled, the employer employing the individual appointed to the military will receive a subsidy from the State for his 6 period salary. It is besides intended to include specialists with 2,000 vacancyes [9].

Latvia's Land Army, Territorial Defence and Military Recruitment

Latvia is exposed to possible hybrid attacks, intelligence activities of the Russian Federation, or even open aggression due to 25% of the Russian number in the country. Riga's armed forces, like Lithuanians, are divided into a professional army (14,700 soldiers), a national defender (territorial defence army), an amount of 8,300 soldiers and reserves, (about 3,000 reservists) [10]. Land troops are divided into 1 mechanized brigade that uses British combat infantry wagons CVR(T), 4 national defender brigades and 1 peculiar army battalion [11].

A tiny number of reservists show that Latvia as the last Baltic State decided to reconstruct compulsory military service only in 2023, and will gradually call for men to do so from January 2024. Each year Riga plans to train 7,500 conscripts.

For Latvia, various types of service are provided, including 11 months in the National Armed Forces of Latvia or the National Guard, which includes at least 21 days of individual training per year and 7 days of collective training. The alternate is to participate in a five-year training programme for students in order to get the rank of reserve lieutenant. Persons subject to recruitment shall receive financial support of EUR 300 per month, as well as benefits in the form of food rations, uniforms, equipment and accommodation. In the case of a replacement service, wellness insurance and the anticipation of utilizing a dwelling shall be provided. Conscription parents receive additional benefits and their children have precedence in enrollment to state kindergartens. Volunteers who opt for military service receive a compensation of EUR 1100 after the end of the 11-month service period and the anticipation of taking free undergraduate studies [12].

The territorial defence of Latvia (Zemessardze), like Lithuanian initially as the main objective, had a voluntary increase in the volunteer reserve. Personnel shortages and a tense geopolitical situation led to the return of compulsory military service. Among the tasks of the Latvian WOT, include anti-tank defense, collaboration with the professional army and the Natov army, logistics and engineering works [13]. Given the aspect of training on the issue of universal defence and combat preparedness, the Latvian military is little prepared for a possible armed conflict than in Lithuania and Estonia. Reserve training started only last year and the building of a adequate number of personnel, which will importantly affect the country's military power and cooperation with the professional army will take Latvians at least a decade. In this respect, Latvia is the weakest link from all the Baltic States.

Land Army of Estonia, Territorial Defence, Military Recruitment

Estonia is the lowest in demographic terms compared to Lithuania and Latvia. The population is 1.349 million. Professional military is besides the least numerous. It counts 6,000 professional soldiers [14]. However, this does not make Estonia the weakest or worst prepared for possible aggression, as the Tallinn authorities have never given up compulsory military service. The reserve has been expanding for years. In 2023 alone, the number of conscripts increased from 26.7 1000 to 43.7 1000 people trained and able to fight in the event of possible mobilisation [15]. Mandatory service is only for men in Estonia. The duration of the collection shall be between 8 and 11 months. After serving, reserve soldiers are called all fewer years for training [16].

Estonia, due to its close proximity to the Russian Western military district, as well as its proximity to the second largest city in Russia, that is, St. Petersburg and serious hybrid attacks in cyberspace aimed at that country, inter alia, in 2007, could not afford to abolish its draft. Complement to the professional army and reserve forces, as in the another Baltic countries, is territorial defence (Estonia Defence League). However, compared to Lithuania and Latvia, participation in this military organization is more widespread in society, another affirmative aspect of the Estonian armed forces. Tallinn's territorial defence formation is divided into male and female troops. Estonian territorialists have 24,000 people capable of mobilising and fighting in the event of an armed conflict. Military training is besides intended for minors in a scout organization affiliated with the Defence League of Estonia, “Young Eagles”, where youth is prepared for further social military participation. The thought of state defence is thus importantly widespread and rooted among Estonian citizens [17]. The full strategy created by the LOE and the training of reserves as part of enlistment is simply a key aspect for the professional army in creating an efficient national safety system.

Summary

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are dependent on the North Atlantic Alliance to supply anti-aircraft defence and airspace control. These countries, in order to increase security, delicate points specified as critical infrastructure, airports, military bases, large urban centres, in addition to continuing the Baltic Air Police programme, should search fresh agreements on rocket defence and heaven. For the Baltics, it has proved affirmative and useful in this respect to join the Alliance of Sweden and Finland, which are able to increase their safety with their anti-aircraft kits. The Baltic countries are besides among the founding countries of the European Sky Shield anti-aircraft programme. Participation in specified collective projects is crucial for the national safety of these countries. Due to the limited financial and demographic capacity, the Baltic States, in order not to waste money that is intended for military purposes and to prepare for a possible conflict with the Russian Federation, whose main asset is the land and armored army, should invest in the only viable kind of military, or land armed forces. In terms of structure, armies of all 3 countries are similar. Professional soldiers are supported by troops of territorial defence troops, which are the facilities to increase the army at a lower cost and train citizens to later cooperate with the army. The Baltic States are forced to keep a mandatory enlistment for military service, as trained citizens from different specialised areas of the battlefield are the only way to mobilise a large number of soldiers in the event of a conflict. Despite much limited resources, the Baltics are striving for continuous modernisation and improvement of their armed forces.

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