US commander says Russia could take Baltics swiftly
BERLIN (AP) — The commanding general of U.S. Army forces in Europe says as things stand, Russia's military could overrun the continent's northeastern Baltic states before the NATO alliance could respond.
In comments to Germany's Die Zeit newspaper during military exercises in Poland emphasizing mobility, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges was quoted Wednesday saying that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania could be rapidly overrun.
"Russia could capture the Baltic states quicker than we could get there to defend them," he was quoted as saying in comments translated into German.
Russia has criticized the ongoing exercise in Poland, saying that the presence of the alliance's troops close to its borders is a threat to its security.
NATO nations are due to meet in Warsaw in July to discuss Russia's assertiveness, among other issues.
