Case Study: The Withdrawal of Russian Military Forces from the Baltc States - National War College
One of the most major sticking points of post-Soviet Baltic politics was getting the Russian armed forces - holdovers from the Soviet era - to pull out of the countries. While Lithuania managed a withdrawal by August 1993, Latvia and Estonia had to contend with issues regarding vital Russian military facilities on their soil that Russia just isn't keen on losing. In the end, it took the aid of the US to negotiate a departure. Even then it was only by the late 90s that the last Russian forces departed from the Baltics permanently (except that one exclave, of course.)
So, is it possible to press for an earlier pullout from the Baltic states (or other post-Soviet countries, if you want to add them in)? In all likelihood, Moscow would have tried delaying the pullout as much as possible, if only to keep the Baltics from drifting to Europe faster. How, then, do you get what is still a regional military power to back down? As far as I know, American support is vital, without which, the Russians may as well as stayed indefinitely. And we all know what happens then. :V
One of the most major sticking points of post-Soviet Baltic politics was getting the Russian armed forces - holdovers from the Soviet era - to pull out of the countries. While Lithuania managed a withdrawal by August 1993, Latvia and Estonia had to contend with issues regarding vital Russian military facilities on their soil that Russia just isn't keen on losing. In the end, it took the aid of the US to negotiate a departure. Even then it was only by the late 90s that the last Russian forces departed from the Baltics permanently (except that one exclave, of course.)
So, is it possible to press for an earlier pullout from the Baltic states (or other post-Soviet countries, if you want to add them in)? In all likelihood, Moscow would have tried delaying the pullout as much as possible, if only to keep the Baltics from drifting to Europe faster. How, then, do you get what is still a regional military power to back down? As far as I know, American support is vital, without which, the Russians may as well as stayed indefinitely. And we all know what happens then. :V