The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have called on NATO to increase its security presence in the region due to reports of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary group, being hosted in Belarus.
he presence of the Wagner Group in Belarus is seen as a threat to the Baltic states, all of which are NATO members. The Baltic states have been worried about the security situation in Belarus since Alexander Lukashenko’s controversial re-election in 2020.
The Baltic states are concerned about Lukashenko and his crackdown on dissent. They fear that he might use the Wagner Group to destabilize their countries or launch an attack. To highlight this threat, they released a statement emphasizing the direct endangerment of the Baltic states and NATO’s security due to the Wagner Group’s presence in Belarus.
NATO has already increased its presence in the Baltic states recently. However, the Baltic states are calling for further action. They are requesting NATO to deploy more troops to the region. Additionally, they want NATO to intensify its exercises and training within the Baltic states. This is aimed at enhancing their defense capabilities.
The concerns of the Baltic states regarding the Wagner Group are well-founded. The Wagner Group is a highly trained and equipped mercenary organization known for carrying out violent and destabilizing missions in conflicts such as those in Syria, Libya, and the Central African Republic.
The presence of the Wagner Group in Belarus serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by Russia to the Baltic states. It also underscores the significance of NATO’s security guarantees to the Baltic states.
