Four European Countries Could Be Vladimir Putin’s Next Targets
An expert has warned that, following the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin could potentially target four European countries. Putin has often hinted at his ambitions to rebuild the Russian empire, suggesting that other European nations may be next on his list of countries to invade.
The Potential Targets
Nicholas Drummond, a defense and security expert, explained that the Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as Moldova, and even some territories in Africa, could be targeted by Russian forces. However, he doesn’t anticipate this happening in the near future, as Russia is currently focusing its military resources on the conflict in Ukraine.
“Putin is a dangerous individual who wants Russia to regain superpower status. I don’t believe he will attack the Baltic states, but he might. There are NATO troops in the Baltic countries, so it would immediately trigger an Article 5 event (the NATO alliance clause that an attack on one member country is an attack on all). That would dramatically escalate the situation. In Moldova – they might try something there. They might also decide to do something in Africa, such as seizing territory,” Drummond said.
Fears of Russian Invasion
In recent years, Moldovan politicians have expressed concerns that Russia might attempt to take control of Transnistria – an internationally recognized breakaway state that is part of Moldova, where the government has previously called for Russia to annex it. However, Moldovan Foreign Minister Mikhail Popșoi said in March that a Russian attack is unlikely at the moment “thanks to the sacrifice of the brave Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian army”.
The Baltic states, on the other hand, have urged their NATO allies to be aware of the threat of further invasions in the future. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are training their citizens how to fight amid concerns of a Russian attack. A soldier, referred to as “Major Kapper”, warned Russia during an appearance on Sky News, stating, “It will be a mess if you come here. We will definitely kill as many of you as we can.”
Need for NATO Allies to Wake Up
When asked about his message to other NATO allies, Major Kapper warned, “Wake up. It won’t stop at Ukraine. If we don’t stop them, then they will go further and further away.”
These warnings underscore the need for vigilance among NATO allies and signal potential future geopolitical shifts in Europe and beyond.
