War in Ukraine: bunkers, walls, anti-missile bases… these European countries which want to protect themselves from a Russian invasion

Were European countries taken by surprise after the election of Donald Trump to the White House? At the heart of the controversial Russian-Ukrainian issue, the Republican has constantly advocated a rapid resolution of the conflict. The American tycoon persists and signs: Ukraine will probably have to give up some of its territories if it wants to end the conflict, to the great dismay of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is calling for a “just peace”.

And Europe in all this? The 27 member states of the European Union fear the end of American solidarity by the end of 2024. In this context, many powers fear a widening of the conflict on a European scale. Such perspectives, shared for several months by senior leaders, encourage a strengthening of positions, even if it means seizing up – or even ceasing – their diplomatic relationship with Russia.

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This is the case, for example, of the Poland : this Wednesday, November 13, an American anti-missile defense base was inaugurated in the presence of Polish President Andrzej Duda and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in Redzikowo, in the north of the country. This base, called “Aegis Ashore”, is part of the Alliance’s expanded anti-missile shield and has left Russia unmoved: the Kremlin has in fact declared that it intends to take “appropriate measures to ensure parity “. NATO, for its part, assures that the device is not directed against Moscow. Similar bases have been erected in Türkiye, Romania and Spain.

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Same observation in Estoniawhich shares a border of some 300 kilometers with Russia. On September 17, a new military base – built in barely a year – was inaugurated just 30 kilometers as the crow flies from the border. The objective: not to allow any Russian soldiers to enter to avoid what is called the policy of “fait accompli”, as in Ukraine. For this, the Estonian military forces want to rely on the construction of 600 bunkers in the direct vicinity of the border, by 2026. Latvia – which wishes to train 4,000 soldiers by 2028 – and the Lithuania should also align with this strategy, while an agreement was signed last January by the three Baltic states.

NATO at the heart of concerns

Between the Finland and Russia too, relations are strained: last September, Helsinki announced that the city of Mikkeli – located not far from the 1,340 kilometers of shared borders – would host the command of NATO’s multi-corps land component: “The Finland sends a message to Russia that it is a full member of NATO and NATO plays a very important role in the defense of Finland,” said Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen. Helsinki has also started the construction of a wall on its border in 2023.

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The Suede, it shares no common border with Russia. The country which pursued a policy of neutrality for two centuries finally joined NATO on March 7. On site, the authorities launched a vast plan to modernize 65,000 shelters, scattered throughout the country. After decades of disarmament, Stockholm is reversing the curve, by considerably increasing its military budget. Not enough to calm discussions with Moscow.