Russia and the United States have again traded weapons threats.
On January 20, it was reported that the United States was planning to deploy its Patriot surface-to-air missiles not in Warsaw suburbs, but in Warminsko-Mazurskie Province close to Morag, a town 60 kilometers from the Russian border.
In response, on the morning of January 21, a high-ranking representative of the Russian Navy said that Russia was going to strengthen its Baltic Fleet in view of the scheduled siting of Patriots near the Russian border.
A few hours later the statement was withdrawn, and a Defense Ministry spokesman said that "All rearmament and modernization measures being conducted in the Russian fleets, including the Baltic Fleet, are scheduled in accordance with the state armaments program and are part of the drive for a new image of the Armed Forces."
At the same time, this exchange of views has focused attention on Russia"s potential to reinforce its Armed Forces in general and the Baltic Fleet in particular. How great is this potential?