"Latvia+Lithuania have invoked NATO art. 4 in response to #crimea"

[steve2470]

https://twitter.com/jamesmatesitv/status/439843485383147520

Latvia+Lithuania have invoked NATO art. 4 in response to #crimea NATO now obliged to hold emerg council meeting. Only 4th time in history
2:23 PM - 1 Mar 2014

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/01/crimea-crisis-deepens-as-russia-and-ukraine-ready-forces-live-updates

I found this interesting, to say the least.

[steve2470]

1. Lithuania invokes Nato treaty on Ukraine

http://euobserver.com/tickers/123321

Lithuania's FM Linkevicius has said Russia's decision to deploy forces in Ukraine means "Nato, art. 4 becomes valid," referring to article 4 of the Nato treaty. The article says Nato members must meet for consultations if "the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened."

[TwilightGardener]

2. It appears NATO will have to be the official limiting factor in Putin's plans.

Militarily speaking.

[OKNancy]

3. that link is good reading

thanks

[steve2470]

4. statement from Latvia

http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/aktuali/zinas/2014/january/01032014-pm-01/

Latvia calls on the international community to actively express its strong support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. International organisations - the United Nations, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and others should act without delay. Latvia urges that the developments in Ukraine be discussed at the extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council and NATO's North Atlantic Council.

[steve2470]

5. NATO ambassadors to discuss Ukraine on Sunday: NATO's Rasmussen

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/01/us-ukraine-crisis-nato-meeting-idUSBREA200XD20140301

(Reuters) - NATO ambassadors will meet in Brussels on Sunday to discuss the situation in Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen tweeted on Saturday.

"North Atlantic Council will meet tomorrow followed by NATO-Ukraine Commission," Rasmussen wrote.

A NATO diplomat said the North Atlantic Council (NATO ambassadors') meeting would take place at 1 p.m. (1200 GMT) and the NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting at 4 p.m.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Crimea river...

[dipsydoodle]

6. Article 4, merely invokes consultation among NATO members

one of which isn't Ukraine.

[LiberalEsto]

7. And I don't blame them a bit

I'm Estonian-American (with a bit of Ukrainian) and I honestly can say, from the emails I'm getting from the Esto community in the US, that the three Baltic nations are scared shitless that Putin will go after them next, when he has his way in Ukraine.

Putin wants to restore Russia's imperial glory, no matter who gets wiped out in the process.

And talk about hypocrisy -- didn't he tell the U.S. to stay out of military involvement in Syria?

[steve2470]

8. They should be nervous, yes

If Putin gets his way in Crimea/Ukraine, I can easily see him eyeing the Baltic states.

[atreides1]

9. But

The US did provide military aid to the Syrian opposition, at least until the command structure of the FSA fell apart!

And there is a difference between Ukraine and the Baltic nations...Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are members of NATO!

But like the rest of the world, we'll have to wait and watch as things unfold in Ukraine...and hope for the best outcome for the region.