• SpaceDogs@lemmygrad.ml
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    5 days ago

    I am well aware of the fact that the masses have mobilized to join the EU (like in Georgia) but I don’t think I have ever seen mass protests in favour of joining NATO.

    Also, genuine question, I know Russia has a very real reason for wanting Ukraine out of NATO, but why wasn’t the same sentiment shared for the Baltics? This Reddit post just made me remember that…

    • PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmygrad.ml
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      5 days ago

      I am well aware of the fact that the masses have mobilized to join the EU (like in Georgia) but I don’t think I have ever seen mass protests in favour of joining NATO.

      There’s a reason most of those countries had a referendum about joining EU but not about joining NATO

      why wasn’t the same sentiment shared for the Baltics?

      Baltics joined NATO in 2004 when Russia was still very much appeasing USA. Also Baltics are way harder to use to invade Russia than Ukraine for several reasons.

    • DamarcusArt@lemmygrad.ml
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      5 days ago

      The border between Russia and the Baltics is much more wild and undeveloped, and much harder to push an army through as a result. The border between Ukraine and Russia is mostly flat farmland, very easy to send troops through.

      • SpaceDogs@lemmygrad.ml
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        5 days ago

        That makes a lot of sense, thank you! I see people use the Baltics as a “gotcha” against the argument that Russia does not want NATO on its borders so I am glad there’s an explanation for why they don’t really count.

        • Munrock ☭@lemmygrad.ml
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          5 days ago

          If the Baltics were just imaginary land that everyone agreed was real, they’d have the same geopolitical relevance as they do now: a flag and a voice cheerleading the West on international fora and trying to convince the world that the duality of being both pro-Nazi and innocent victims of communism was a real thing that they could be in the war.