Russia war of aggression: Lithuania's foreign minister warns of European "Pearl Harbor moment"

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Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis: “The biggest problem is that we don’t know how much time we have left.”

Photo: Olivier Hoslet / EPA

Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has warned of a possible Russian surprise attack on NATO countries. »We have a very aggressive neighbor who wants to test NATO. We have to prepare for that,” said the chief diplomat of the Baltic EU and NATO country “zdfheute”. »We can't wait for a second, our Pearl Harbor moment. We cannot wait for every European country to actually be attacked by Russia – south, north, east and west.”

With a surprise attack by Japan on the US fleet off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, World War II spread to the Pacific.

Landsbergis urged further Western military aid for Russia-attacked Ukraine, particularly the delivery of long-range Taurus cruise missiles. "Ukraine needs the Taurus for strategic reasons to gain the upper hand against Russia," he said. "Yes, Germany has incredible equipment that it could supply to Ukraine."

If no weapons are delivered, it is questionable whether Russia could be stopped at all. »And where would it end? And that is what all the countries on the eastern flank are thinking about. If Russia is not stopped by Ukraine, the war may spread. Then he can reach us too,” emphasized Landsbergis. Lithuania borders the Russian exclave Kaliningrad and Russia's ally Belarus.

Fear of US withdrawal

Landsbergis was also concerned about a possible withdrawal of the USA as a protecting power of Europe, which is “still in the awakening phase”. "The alarm clock has rung, but we haven't gotten out of bed yet," said the Lithuanian Foreign Minister. »The biggest problem is that we don't know how much time we have left. We hope that Russia can be stopped by the Ukrainians." But the reality is that Russia can mobilize another 400,000 troops and build new tanks and new weapons.

The likely Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump caused a stir with statements that if he were re-elected, he would not protect defaulting NATO partners from Russia and would "even encourage the country to do whatever the hell they want."

US Vice President Kamala Harris then made a clear commitment to American involvement in NATO at the Munich Security Conference. In the eyes of the US government, NATO is central to global security and the greatest military alliance the world has ever seen, said Harris.

czl/dpa