Kaja Kallas blamed for mandatory military service introduction in Latvia

15 comments

1. It’s seems more of a internal rumble inside the defence ministry, since the public doesn’t know about any plans their opinions are mainly based on gossip. The criticism about her sayings is mainly done by former people who were in charge/responsible for the development of defence planning. Nobody likes if someone craps on their work.

2. > is his claim that Estonians are also angry allegedly about that Kallas dared to publicly discuss and denounce NATO 180 day plan?

   No. We’re satisfied we have daring people at the top. Especially compared to the previous weenie.

3. I understood this 180 days was published knowledge available for anyone to read from public documents of NATO. Based on this I personally don’t think Kaja Kallas did anything wrong directing attention to it. I mean it’s pretty terrible information and why shouldn’t media pay attention to it. Although I also agree with our president saying that this will scare off investments and the less people are invested in us the less they care I guess. It’s war, none of it is good, but not because of Kallas…

4. Mostly people are angry at Kaja Kallas because of her inactivity in tackling inflation (in part caused by national electric network company run by her ex) and actively defending corruption (one of her ministers is under criminal investigation for embezzling few million euros and she said it’s ok). Publicly undermining NATO is not surprising, as her party wanted to put leaving NATO on a referendum a while ago.

   Estonian media has a stick and carrot fully in play – they got 9M€ tax break for praising the prime minister and then some journalists got fined for writing about PM’s friends in money laundering scandal.

5. So if Estonians are uncomfortable to find out that NATO’s plan for Baltic States is to let them be invaded, and liberate them within 180 days, that’s Estonia’s problem which they should deal with, since Latvia is okay with it?

   Is he aware that Latvia is a Baltic State, or is he furious because his neighbour raised an issue he didn’t get to first?

6. >My question: is his claim that Estonians are also angry allegedly about that Kallas dared to publicly discuss and denounce NATO 180 day plan? Is it true, other Estonian politicians, military officers, media, society in general

   Well, people have been mad at [similar stuff](https://www.delfi.ee/artikkel/88112455/mart-helme-vaitel-ei-saa-nato-peale-kindel-olla-nad-on-kriisis-valmistume-plaan-b-ks) when the teams were different but in general, no. I’m not a big fan of Kallas but I do completely agree with her on this one.

   In general, I think that Latvia and Lithuania were foolish to ever abolish conscription as long as we still have the Russian empire on our doorstep.

7. My take:

   Kaja Kallas was sort of lobbying (in US media) for NATO to deploy more forces in the Baltic countries *in advance*. She implied that the current defense plans were insufficient, and if NATO strictly followed these plans, Baltic countries might be overrun and need to be liberated. The goal: to have more vehicles and considerable numbers of soldiers here permanently, since shipping lanes might not be open in wartime.

   However, her presentation of the situation is too dire to be realistic. I think she was practising some doomerism with a political goal in sight.

   – The primary unit that could attack Estonia or Latvia on very short notice, and possibly occupy key areas – the Pskov air assault division – has been sent to Ukraine and suffered horrible losses.
   – Multiple more units have been sent to Ukraine and suffered big losses.
   – Finns report that some armoured infantry stationed on the Russian-Finnish border have been likewise dispatched to Ukraine.
   – It did not account for the potential of NATO air activity. A land attack under intense hostile air activity is unlikely to roll smoothly.

   Meanwhile of course, Estonia has sent howitzers and Javelins to Ukraine, Latvia has sent Stingers (if I remember correctly) and so forth, so Baltic capabilities have also decreased somewhat.

   Recent assessments vary. Some analysts say that Russia is no longer capable of crossing the Suwalki gap. Others say that Russia may rebuild its abilities, since it appears to be switching over to a wartime economy.

   Conclusion: there has been discussion, but no outrage. It has not really been the front-page headline here.

   P.S.

   *Policy ideas for Latvians: don’t make it mandatory, but establish a mandatory defense tax which is paid by everyone who hasn’t got military training, so people can “opt in” to the military at a time of their choice. Also, the 12-month proposal of service time seems outrageous, I would consider something way shorter.*

8. >My question: is his claim that Estonians are also angry allegedly about that Kallas dared to publicly discuss

   Estonians are split whether Kallas’s statement was wise, but not many are angry.

   Much more Estonians are actually angry about Latvia having neglected their defense capabilities for decades and by that increasing danger to us all.

   There is a joke that goes like that:

   Q: Does Latvia have an army to defend themselves?

   A: Yes. It’s called Estonian Army.

9. Tuleb välja, EKREkatel oli õigus, Kallase võim on piiritu. 😀

10. I don’t think it’s anger or seen it somewhere!

    For me, it’s just shocking that “180days” even exist. Bc it is always have been: Nato forces are already here and more would come in weeks etc. I think Kallas might known little bit more and knew 180 days could come into reality! So it’s cool she tries to make it better.

    I always though past 10-15 years, that those 500-1000 nato forces won’t help much and we ourself have to gear up and make best geared force possible. Out tech Russia cheap stuff.

    In reality and most likely Russia would do surprise attack, no ballz to do it differently with stone age stuff. And if they manage to capture or hold those nato forces who are waiting for commands! They would become a liability to keep nato away!

    Deterrent has to be something else and absolute minimum is number of conscripts across all baltic nations!

    Small Pro or payd army is not effective or even useful, if there is artillery against you! Does not matter how good you are or skillz you have, only thing is your coordinates and it’s over for ya. Also defending land borders, you need very large numbers!

11. Personally I’m not mad at all, in fact I’m very glad she said it out loud. Kallas is setting the stage to get permanent NATO bases in Estonia. This does 2 things: it might nudge NATO forward with the plan and it explains the reasons why such bases are necessary.

12. If anything, Kallas’ should be *thanked*, not *blamed*, for a step that majorily increases Latvia’s defense capabilities.

13. I’m not angry, I’m proud. I foolishly didn’t know the current NATO plan which is BS and we’d all end up wiped out. Latvia needs to suck it up and get its military ready.

    If the worst was to happen and Pooootin attacked, our only chance is NATO + our own army’s 100% swift action.

14. Latvia needs all the help it can get to catch up with Estonia and Lithuania on defense.

15. It’s scary to hear the truth, but I prefer an ugly truth than a beautiful lie. In my opinion, Kaja showed strength of character, because many politicians etc are shitting on her because of this. But this shitting is along the lines of “shh, it was meant to be a secret! Now that public is outraged, we are forced to actually do something…”.

    I sincerely hope this will accelerate corrective manoeuvres all around.