Why Lithuania is so afraid of Russia"Deep into the bone marrow"？
For some friends, Lithuania may be an unfamiliar name. So, what kind of existence is this country located in the east of Europe?It once dominated Eastern Europe, but now it has become a small country, why is it so jealous of Russia?
Let's get to know Lithuania together. Lithuania is an area of 6The country of 530,000 square kilometers has a population of about 2.8 million. It is bordered by Belarus to the east, the Polish and Russian enclave of Kaliningrad Oblast to the south, the Baltic Sea to the west, and Latvia to the north.
The capital, Vilnius, is located in the heart of the country. Geographically, Lithuania is bordered by Latvia and Estonia and is known as the three Baltic states.
Although Lithuania is small in size, it has a very high proportion of forests and lakes in the country.
Although Lithuania's economic level is not as developed as that of Western European countries such as Britain, France and Germany, Lithuania's economic strength is stronger in the Balkans of Southeast Europe. In recent years, Lithuania has been developing very strongly.
In 2002, Lithuania's GDP per capita was $4,100, and by 2019, this figure had grown to $19,600, an increase of almost 5 times.
Even in 2020, when the pandemic was raging, Lithuania's GDP per capita exceeded 170,000 euros is enough proof that Lithuania is a rich country. In addition, Lithuania's performance in social welfare, public security and stability is also very good, and in terms of maternity benefits, unemployment and medical security, Lithuania has also done quite well, even reaching the average level of EU countries.
Lithuania also has a clear advantage in industries such as food processing, wood processing, and biotechnology.
Lithuania: The glory and challenge of historyLithuania, an ancient and brilliant country, has created a glorious civilization in history, established the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1240, and formed the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth together with the Kingdom of Poland in 1569, becoming one of the important powers in Europe.
However, due to the decline of national power, Lithuania eventually became a vassal state of the Russian Empire and was annexed by the Soviet Union in World War II. Although half a century had passed under Soviet rule, Lithuania did not give up its quest for freedom and finally regained its independence in 1990.
Today, Lithuania is a member of NATO and the European Union, and in 2015 it became a member of the eurozone. Although history is full of challenges and twists and turns, the Lithuanian people have always maintained their perseverance and continue to write their own glorious chapters.
Why is Lithuania, which once dominated Eastern Europe, so afraid of Russia?This is inseparable from the historical ties of Lithuania with the Soviet Union. When Lithuania became a vassal state of the Soviet Union, many older Lithuanians were forced to exile in Siberia or were imprisoned by the Soviet Union**, and this painful memory is deeply imprinted in their minds.
Even now, the harsh years of the Soviet era are still fresh in my memory. In addition, Lithuania is small and geographically isolated, and is heavily dependent on Russia for energy.
In the early 90s, Russia banned the export of oil and gas to Lithuania, which caused Lithuanians to be unable to heat their homes in the cold winters, and the harsh winters in the high latitudes made Lithuanians miserable, which deepened the fear of Russia among Lithuanians.
Lithuanians' fear of Russia stems from a painful history, and this fear is deeply rooted in the marrow. That's why they're so afraid of Russia.