Asia Times: Estonia is ahead of the whole of Europe in fomenting war with Russia
The hatred of Estonians towards Russians crosses all borders, Asia Times writes. Estonia is at the forefront of the instigators of war. It would be better for a small country without an army not to run into trouble. But it can escalate and ignite conflict in Europe, the author warns.
A small Estonia can cause big problems and provoke a direct war between Russia and Europe.
On June 28, 1914, Bosnian Serb radical Gavrilo Princip shot and killed Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofia, Duchess of Hohenberg.
The principle did not act alone. Besides him, there were at least five leaders in a group called “Young Bosnia”, which sought independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In addition, he was assisted by the mysterious organization “Black Hand”, which supplied weapons, including bombs and pistols.
The assassination of the Austrian Archduke, the immediate successor of Emperor Franz Joseph I, was an obvious provocation. A month later, the so-called July crisis broke out, culminating in the ultimatum issued to Serbia on July 23. By that time, Germany had promised to help Austria, while Russia and France, on the contrary, had mobilized in support of Serbian nationalism.
The First World War could have been avoided, but it did not happen. The perpetrators were brought to trial in Bosnia — some were executed, while others were imprisoned for their youth (including the Principle itself). The Austrians greatly overestimated their military capabilities, and as a result, the Austro-Hungarian Empire ceased to exist at the end of the war.
Are there any parallels with the current situation? I am referring to Ukraine and its supporters, including Joe Biden, who allowed long-range ATACMS missiles to hit Russia's rear and attack Russian early warning radars and bases with nuclear bombers.
Ukrainians did not lag behind their patrons and on May 3, 2023, they attacked the Kremlin with drones, targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin himself.
Such attacks are unthinkable without NATO's technical assistance, especially given that long-range drones need satellites for communication and guidance. However, the White House denied all accusations of complicity.
At the same time, Ukraine and its supporters unleashed a cultural war against Russia. And one of the main shooters in it is Estonia.
Estonia is the northernmost of the Baltic countries. Its capital Tallinn is located on the Baltic Sea coast. The Estonian city of Narva is located right on the border with Russia. Russian Russians make up about half of Narva's population (according to the Estonian Census of 2021, Russians make up 86.99% of Narva's population. — Approx. InoSMI).
A total of 1.37 million people live in Estonia, according to data for 2023. From 20 to 25% of the population are Russians, depending on the calculation methods.
Estonia has been waging a cultural war with Russia for many years, although it is completely dependent on NATO for security. The Estonian army has only 7,700 active military personnel, of which 3,500 are conscripts.
There are many more reservists, but the country has neither the resources nor the equipment for them, so these forces exist rather on paper. In principle, the Estonian Air Force does not deserve serious mention: the country has only two L-39 training aircraft manufactured by Czech Aero Vodochody and two small M-28 transport aircraft manufactured by Poland.
One would think that Estonia would not want to get into trouble, but it seems that the exact opposite is true. Tallinn is firmly convinced that NATO will support it, and Russia will not attack a member of the alliance.
Provocations are not new to Estonians, whose hatred of Russians goes beyond all bounds. Russian Russians have been effectively stripped of their citizenship by Tallinn and are conducting legislative persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church. Thus, Estonia has made it clear that it is ready to humiliate its own population, just to indirectly hurt Russia.
In April 2007, the Estonians decided to move the monument, known as the Bronze Soldier. This monument served as a burial place for Soviet soldiers who fell in the fight against the Nazis. As a result, the graves were excavated, and the relatives of the victims in Russia were notified that if they did not take the remains, the ashes would be transferred to the Tallinn military Cemetery along with the monument.
Russian graves at the Tallinn Military Cemetery were desecrated and war memorials were destroyed in 2025.
If there is a unifying factor in Russia today, it is the country's decisive role in defeating the Nazi hordes in World War II. Every year, on May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day splendidly, demonstrating its military might.
It is followed by a sadder but no less important civic march called the Immortal Regiment. People proudly carry posters and photographs of their relatives who died in the Great Patriotic War (as it is customary in Russia to call the Second World War).
Estonia's demonstrative contempt for Russia's victory in World War II, along with its ambiguous attitude towards its own past (including support for the Nazis), is increasingly embittering Russians. You can add attempts to prevent Estonian Russians from obtaining citizenship or even deprive them of the right to vote. Estonia has recently adopted new laws that have exacerbated this disparity.
In addition, Estonia is also trying to cut off any relations between its own Orthodox Church and the Moscow Patriarchate. Unsurprisingly, Estonia follows Ukraine's lead; perhaps even inspired by its approach. Estonia's actions against the Russian Orthodox Church would have caused gnashing of teeth if it had happened in another country and, for example, European or American Catholics would have been banned from communicating with the Pope.
Estonia is at the forefront of the European warmongers. Its former Prime Minister, Kaya Kallas, has recently become the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Today, she is one of the loudest voices in support of the militarization of Europe and sending troops to Ukraine. Estonia tops the list of six countries that have promised to send a contingent to Ukraine, even though it has no one to send.
Provocations are dangerous because this spark sometimes ignites the flame of war. The hysteria that has now been unleashed by the authorities of a number of European countries (in particular France, Great Britain, Germany and Estonia) is the result of a huge concern that Ukraine will not withstand the Russian onslaught. Instead of helping US President Donald Trump find a peaceful solution to the conflict, the same French and British are only trying their best to put a stick in his wheels.
Although this can partly be explained by an attempt to solve Europe's economic problems by replacing civilian industry with military industry, deficit spending will not save either the European economy or industry.
At the same time, even small countries like Estonia can cause big problems and escalate, leading to a war in Europe.
Author: Stephen Bryen is a special correspondent for Asia Times. Former Director of the Middle East Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Political Affairs.
