Lithuania, a little-known small Eastern European country, has been playing a tense game with Russia on the international stage for the past two years.
But for most people, the history and current situation of this place may still be quite unfamiliar. Let's take a look at a once-powerful country that is now teetering in the midst of an international storm.
Lithuania is located in Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea to the west, bordering Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad Oblast to the southwest.
Despite its natural and geographical conditions, Lithuania's history has been full of hardships and cruelty.
To this day, the country is still like a patient with ** disease, sometimes angry and palpitating, sometimes hysterical.
However, don't underestimate Lithuania, it has a glorious history.
In the pages of European history, Lithuania slashed the Teutonic Knights, speared the Golden Horde, repelled the Mongol army, and occupied the western and southern lands of Kievan Rus'.
At the end of the 14th century, the reign of Vytautas the Great brought Lithuania to its zenith and a decisive victory in the Battle of Grunwald in alliance with the Kingdom of Poland.
However, prosperity must be followed by decline. At the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, the rise of the Grand Duchy of Moscow became Lithuania's most formidable rival.
After a series of wars, Lithuania lost large areas of land such as Kievan Rus.
At the end of the 18th century, Tsarist Russia annexed Lithuania, leaving it in a dilemma of surviving. Anti-Russian sentiment among Lithuanians also took root during this period, waiting for the opportunity to return to the country for revenge.
At the beginning of World War II, the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and imposed brutal rule.
After the establishment of the Soviet Socialist Republic, Lithuania became part of the Soviet Union. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lithuania finally declared its independence. In 1989, the three Baltic states joined forces to launch the "Baltic Way" campaign to express their dissatisfaction with Soviet rule and lay the groundwork for the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Despite independence, Lithuania has not let go of its hostility towards Russia. Joining NATO and the European Union became its strategic choice and became a link in the West's confrontation with Russia.
However, in stark contrast to its relatively inadequate military strength, Lithuania is a growing strategic threat to Russia.
In the current international situation, tensions between Lithuania and Russia are becoming more and more prominent. Lithuania is not only actively seeking international support, but is also strengthening its military presence on its border with Russia, hoping that the international community will provide it with more protection.
However, it remains to be seen whether Lithuania's dilemma can really be resolved.