Alexander, it is and it isn't. The U.S. did not have a security agreement with Kuwait but a coalition of countries came together to defend it. Of course Iraq was not the power of Russia. Should Britain have defended the Falkland Islands? that was achieved at enormous cost. It was a British territory.

We don't want to follow an appeasement path that simply emboldens Putin to return for another bite somewhere else. He has a clear pattern of behavior. doing exactly this.

In invading Ukraine Putin needs to get a very bloody nose and hopefully the Ukrainians will do this.

Sanctions? Yes, although will fall short and agreement on these will be divisive for sure. Also, Putin has these in the equation already.

What would the U.S. and NATO do should one of the Baltic countries be attacked? We should have no lack of resolve to that situation.

I don't hear of the UN? There should be voices here especially because Putin has taken the conflict global with his references to the places you mention.

Good piece. Best to you.