Accents of Europe

Russia's neighbors want to be ready in case of attack

Audio 7:30 p.m.

Members of the Latvian National Guard during a military exercise, near Strenci, Latvia, May 22, 2022. © REUTERS - INTS KALNINS

By: Léa-Lisa Westerhoff Follow

2 mins

While the conflict in Ukraine is a long-term one, all around Russia, neighboring countries are preparing for the possibility of being invaded one day.

In Latvia, the war in Ukraine thus revived interest in the Latvian National Guard.

This civil defense organization, integrated into the army and created a hundred years ago, is once again attracting volunteers to a country largely marked by the invasion of the Germans, then of the Russians during the Second World War.

The report to these volunteers by our correspondent in the Baltic countries, Marielle Vitureau.

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In Finland too, the population is mobilizing and wants to be ready in the event of a possible aggression from Moscow.

The country, which shares 1,340 kilometers of borders with Russia, has just submitted its application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Since February 24, civil defense associations have been filling up, there is even a queue in the shooting ranges,

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At the heart of the strategic stakes of this war against Ukraine, access to and control of the Black Sea.

Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania surround this space.

Since the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, and even more since the invasion of Ukraine, this Black Sea has been at the center of European news: cereals, gas, oil and weapons, everything seems to pass through the.

's European eye of the week

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The authorities of Montenegro have made a bold choice this year to represent their country at the Venice Biennale.

Dante Buu, an openly gay and Muslim artist, represents the small Balkan country at the gigantic exhibition of contemporary art which is held until the end of November 2022. This choice is by no means obvious in a country which authorizes the marriage of couples homosexuals for two years, but in which homophobia remains the norm, as does discrimination against the Muslim minority.

The portrait of Dante Bu signed

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June 13 is Saint Anthony's Day.

In Portugal, this saint is the patron of the capital Lisbon.

It is therefore particularly celebrated with a gigantic popular march in music and costumes specially created for the occasion.

The 22 districts of the capital compete in imagination during this great parade attended by thousands of people.

All the more so after a two-year hiatus due to Covid.

attended for us the rehearsals of the march of Saint Vincent, a district in the center of Lisbon.

(Rebroadcast from June 13, 2022)

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• Russia

• Ukraine

• Latvia

• Finland

• NATO

• Georgia

• Turkey

• Bulgaria

• Romania

• Montenegro

• Portugal

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