Topic:Latvia — Global Security Review %

Pro-Russia and Populist Parties Gain Support in Latvia

Gabriella Gricius

As Latvia's election results were tallied on the first Saturday of October, many domestic and international observers were shocked to see that the center-left, pro-Russia "Harmony" party won 19.9 percent…

Deterrence & Foreign PolicyChina, Estonia, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, United States

Russian Foreign Policy: Expansionism Feeds Domestic Nationalism

Joshua Ball

Russian foreign policy and domestic politics are inextricably intertwined, which means heightened tensions with the U.S. for foreseeable future. Moscow will attempt to develop stronger economic connections with Tokyo and Seoul…

DiplomacyEstonia, European Union, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, United Kingdom

The European Union Faces Challenges to Its Legitimacy in 2018

Joshua Ball

The European Union will need to implement badly needed reforms to maintain its legitimacy. The 2016 Brexit vote and rising the popularity of far-right nationalist political parties in Western Europe…

Defense & SecurityEstonia, European Union, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, NATO, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Poland Will Increase the Size of Its Military by Over 50%

Joshua Ball

Over 50,000 troops will join the ranks of the Polish Armed Forces. This comes alongside news that the Polish military will create a 50,000-strong volunteer militia as fears grow of…

Defense & SecurityBelarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, NATO, Poland, Russia, Sweden, United States

Could Russia Attempt a Crimea-Style Operation Against Belarus?

Joshua Ball

As tensions mount in Moscow's standoff with the West, the upcoming Zapad military exercises likely will be larger and more important than ever before. Russia's annual strategic "Zapad" (запад; Russian…

Defense & SecurityBelarus, Crimea, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, NATO, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Zapad-2017

Zapad-2017: Analyzing Troop Numbers & Economic Factors

Joshua Ball

The Kremlin must be sure of Russia's ability to prevail in any forceful confrontation, or at least ensure a stalemate. While eastern European leaders are certainly justified in their concern,…

Defense & SecurityEstonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, United States

Is Russia Preparing for War with NATO and the West?

Joshua Ball

Analyzing Discourse, Russian Military Exercises and Troop Movements Domestically and in Russia's "Near-Abroad" A question facing foreign policy experts the world over is whether or not the Russian Federation is…