Moscow: Amidst the war with Ukraine, a dispute has erupted between Russia’s own neighboring country. The name of this country is Lithuania. Lithuania has banned goods traveling by rail to Kaliningrad, Russia. After this, Russia has warned that if Lithuania will be given such an answer, its people will feel pain. To this, Lithuania replied that we are ready for this.
Lithuania is a small country, whose population is only 28 lakhs. This country has an army of only 16 thousand. Whereas, Russia has more than one million active soldiers. Lithuania was once part of the Soviet Union. Lithuania became a separate country after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. In 2004, Lithuania joined the military organization NATO. NATO i.e. North Atlantic Treaty Organization was started in 1949. America leads it. At present, NATO includes 30 countries.
What sparked controversy?
Actually, Kaliningrad is like a sandwich. It has Poland on one side and Lithuania on the other. Both Poland and Lithuania are members of NATO. Whatever is supplied to Kaliningrad, it is through rail from Lithuania itself. Lithuania has now stopped this supply. The dispute with Russia is about this. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has called on NATO member Lithuania to immediately lift the openly hostile sanctions imposed on Kaliningrad.
The Baltic country, Lithuania, announced last week that it was going to ban goods on the European Union’s list of sanctions on the form to Kaliningrad by rail.
How will this affect Russia?
These sanctions on Lithuania will stop 50 percent of imports from Russia in Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is an impregnable fortress of Russia, which is strategically very important due to being exactly in the middle of Europe. Recently Russia conducted a nuclear strike exercise in Kaliningrad itself. Kaliningrad is spread over an area of about 223 square kilometers.
Iskander missile attack was practiced
The Russian military has practiced strikes with the nuclear-capable Iskander missile in Kaliningrad. The Iskander missile system was first deployed in the region in 2016. Many European countries including Germany come in the range of this missile. The Baltic Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy is headquartered in Kaliningrad and it is believed that Russia has nuclear weapons here.
Russia threatens Lithuania with action
The goods that Lithuania has banned include coal, metals, construction goods, and state-of-the-art technology. Russia’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying, “Russia reserves the right to defend its national interests if the movement of goods between Kaliningrad and Russia is not fully resumed in the future.”
The Russian presidential office said earlier on Monday that Lithuania’s decision was “unexpected” and a violation of everything. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “The situation is more than serious and a very in-depth analysis is needed before taking any action or decision.” Meanwhile, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius defended his country’s move. He said that our country is only implementing the sanctions imposed by the European Union.
