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or leasing options. And, even if obtained, the challenge of manning these new
capabilities still exists. Therefore, the need for deployment of NATO troops continues,
but must be viewed more from the perspective of special capabilities than from
maneuver forces. This focus will allow the Baltic States to concentrate on the
mechanization and development of maneuver formations while NATO forces fill the gap
of some of the technical shortfalls.
Defending European security architecture has always been the task of NATO
and is measured in the sum of all alliance members’ capabilities. The security situation
has not changed this, and the Baltic States need help from other NATO countries to
secure their part of the collective responsibility. As stated above, Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania must concentrate their scarce resources to develop conventional capabilities
that will act as a deterrent and, if need be, to counter Russia’s conventional forces until
the whole of NATO can mobilize and restore security. The alliance must agree to
provide specific capabilities until the Baltic countries are able to acquire and apply these
capabilities themselves, to include ballistic missile defense and subsequent air defense
layers along with allied air forces.
The development of mobile fire support systems together with coastal artillery will
be part of developing brigades as main maneuver forces and must be accompanied by
the passive means of fire support to execute effective counter-battery or counter-asset
missions. Access to special munitions like scatterable minefields for their countermobility
advantage against armor and tanks will help brigades to shape the conventional
battlefield in their favor. Electronic warfare and electronic counter-measures capabilities
will further multiply the effect of fires.
The current Latvian force posture of territorial defense and only one maneuver
brigade leaves them vulnerable against a Russian conventional attack. Accordingly,
Latvia would benefit by reestablishing mandatory service, thereby creating one
additional maneuver brigade in the region. Furthermore, mandatory military service
would help Latvia to integrate their Russian minorities into Latvian society and possibly
undermine the threat of hybrid warfare. Although Estonia and Lithuania already have
mandatory service and are well ahead in this regard in effectively applying more
manpower towards their defense forces, all three countries require the assistance of the
remainder of the alliance to effectively convert the Baltics into a reliable NATO bastion.
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