The Balkans

[GDS_Starfury]

everyone ready for this shitshow to start again?

[Gusington]

Perfect timing. I'm sure the Russians have nothing to do with it. Serbia feeling bold.

[Redwolf]

The Serbs start to get on my nerves.

[GDS_Starfury]

can't find the flight tracker screenshot but AWACS are up over the Adriatic and theres a carrier group somewhere around there as well.

[al_infierno]

What did I miss?

[SirAndrewD]

What did I miss?

Briefly, an initial dispute over Serbian license plates that list Kosovo as their territory, rising tensions.  A border clash with the Serbian military in which some captured Serbs only spoke Russian.  Now the Serbian military massing on the Kosovo border.

[Skoop]

Serbs that only speak Russian ?  That sounds like some treachery there.  Could Russians be trying to distract nato by purposely flaring up the balkans ?

[SirAndrewD]

Serbs that only speak Russian ?  That sounds like some treachery there.  Could Russians be trying to distract nato by purposely flaring up the balkans ?

Less a distraction and more an extension of a long term goal.  Russia has assured Serbia that it does not recognize Kosovo's independence or right to exist and supports Serbia's intent to reacquire it even if that means it will be fully "cleansed" after. 

Russia has stayed tied to Serbia and pro-Russian voices tend to support Serbia as well.

It's even been in US circles. American Fox News consultant Gen. Douglas McGregor has been a regular echo of Russian talking points and has tied Ukraine and Kosovo to the act of "rootless cosmopolitans" as he called them in a speech to a pro-Serbian group shortly after the outbreak of the Ukraine war.  This is an old Soviet Era pogrom word for Jewish manipulators, and he has been tying both conflicts together according to talking points from Russian state media.   

Russian interest in Moldava and a firm alliance with Serbia supported by a land connection via a capitulated Ukraine that cedes the Odesa corridor is all part of a long term geo political strategy. 

[Staggerwing]

Serbs that only speak Russian ?  That sounds like some treachery there.  Could Russians be trying to distract nato by purposely flaring up the balkans ?

Were those russian-speaking Serbs dressed in green?

[Sir Slash]

Well at least this one is easier to follow than the whole Armenia/Azerbaijan, or whoever, thing from a week or two back. At least you can find these places on a map.

[GDS_Starfury]

Russian interest in Moldava and a firm alliance with Serbia supported by a land connection via a capitulated Ukraine that cedes the Odesa corridor is all part of a long term geo political strategy. 

don't forget Kalingrad!   

[SirAndrewD]

don't forget Kalingrad!   

I haven't. 

I in general have largely been an advocate for defending against a Russian southern strategy in the near term, a northern one in the long term. 

The northern strategy was highly dependent on Russia's modernization programs, especially the reform of the Russian Navy and introduction of 5th Gen aircraft into the Air Force and final transition of the Russian Army to a professional force. 

Clearly events have thrown that into disarray.

[GDS_Starfury]

but they haven't really gotten started yet. 

[GDS_Starfury]

I also don't think that NATO is in the mood to fuck around with this right now.
by that I mean it would be crushed quickly.

[SirAndrewD]

I also don't think that NATO is in the mood to fuck around with this right now.
by that I mean it would be crushed quickly.

I agree.  I think Serbia's writing checks Moscow won't cash, even though they might be telling them otherwise.