North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Authored by Alex Gorka via The Stratgeic Culture Foundation,

Much has been said about NATO reinforcements in the Baltic States and Poland perceived in Moscow as provocative actions undermining security in Europe, while very little has been said about gradual but steady militarization of Scandinavia. The theme does not hit headlines and it is not in focus of public discourse but one step is taken after another to turn the region into a springboard for staging offensive actions against Russia.

Authored by Steve H. Hanke of the Johns Hopkins University. Follow him on Twitter @Steve_Hanke.

The tiny Balkan state of Montenegro appeared on center stage at the NATO summit of world leaders in Brussels. Indeed, Montenegro’s Prime Minister, Dusko Markovic, was a bit too much front and center for President Trump. So, Trump moved Markovic to the side, and rightfully so. After all, Montenegro isn’t even a formal member of NATO yet, but only a state in the process of becoming a member – something that has, among other things, raised Russia’s hackles. 

So much for NATO-alliance members working for the common good.

In September, Russia will conduct its Zapad 2017 military exercise, the largest since the end of the Cold War, and one which is already sending shivers down the spine of NATO, which not only has "serious doubts Moscow is revealing the true extent of its military exercises", but because the last time such a major training exercise took place was just before the Crimea "annexation." One country, however, isn't taking chances: Russia's northern neighbor Finland, which as the WSJ reports, is "going underground."

Authored by Nauman Sadiq via Oriental Review,