Holy League Against Russia

May Kyiv 2022 become the “Vienna” of Russians!

In the years leading up to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the might of Russia was perceived as overwhelming, if not invincible. The narrative, even post-invasion, largely revolved around halting the Russian advance and deterring further aggression towards Europe. This perspective, however, inadvertently placed Europe in a defensive stance, reacting rather than acting against the looming threat from the East. Amidst this backdrop, a different strategy has been brewing, one that involves a proactive stance against Russian aggression, a strategy I have supported from the outset (see here and here).

Central to this approach is the revival of the Intermarium concept, a visionary alliance that envisages the co-operation of the countries that were once part of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Although in the beginning I was a proponent of a “minimalist”, more conservative approach that would include Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic States and possibly Romania – i.e., an Eastern European coalition, it seems other European nations, notably Nordic countries could join this alliance as well. In fact, they will be a very welcome addition with their strong economies, high technological capacity and as recent years have shown, with their bold, warlike attitude matching that of Eastern Europe, which stands in stark contrast to the rest of Western Europe.

The recent shift of warfare on Russian soil, characterized by daily drone strikes from Ukraine and raids by several Ukraine-allied Russian volunteer corps, presents a unique opportunity to actualize the Intermarium idea. It's a call to North-Eastern European nations to form a modern-day Holy League, reminiscent of the alliance against the Ottoman Empire during and following the Siege of Vienna in 1683.

The Holy League of the past did not limit itself to defensive maneuvers but went on the offensive after repelling the Ottoman-Turks from Vienna, eventually leading to significant territorial losses for the Ottoman Empire through the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699. In the aftermath of their unsuccessful siege and the Great Turkish War that followed (1683 – 1699) the Turks were ousted from Central-Eastern Europe for good. This historical precedent underlines the potential for a focused alliance of European countries to not only defend but also to reclaim and secure territories from aggressors that seem formidable, a principle that could be applied today against Russia.

The proposed alliance could begin from the basics and be formed around the “lowest-hanging fruit”, namely by focusing on augmenting Ukraine's drone production capabilities. Ukraine's successes in targeting Russian military infrastructure and oil refineries with domestically produced drones highlight the effectiveness of this strategy. However, to sustain and amplify this impact, support from neighboring countries is essential. To knock-out Russia, not tens or hundreds, but thousands and tens of thousands of drones should be swarming its territory daily. And this is where countries like Poland, Romania, the Baltic States, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway could jump in by establishing their own production of drones to support Ukraine in its efforts. If Ukraine, with its war-battered economy and infrastructure had managed to establish an almost industrial scale drone production, those countries can do that too very easily. In fact, it would cost for each of them, especially for the rich and advanced Nordic countries, far less as percentage of their resources to match Ukraine in absolute terms.

Wouldn’t it be great if drones were flying towards Russia not only from Ukraine, but also from Poland, Finland, Lithuania, and other directions? Firstly, to preempt the vapid retorts from the usual suspects, there’s little reason to fear Russian retaliation, let alone a nuclear one. Given that Russian infrastructure is in shambles and Russia has been plagued by corruption from time immemorial, it’s highly questionable whether Russia possesses any functional nuclear weapons at all. If anything, any nuclear warhead launched from Russia will most likely explode inside its territory. Russians have always been adept at deceiving the West about their might and conveying an image about themselves that is far removed from reality. But if attacking Russia with drones from their own territory still appears as too audacious of a move for those countries, they can give them to Ukraine. One way or another, this would be a low-cost, yet significant, improvement on Ukraine’s military capabilities. This collective effort would ensure that the pressure on Russian defenses is not just sustained but intensified, demonstrating the power of unity and shared purpose.

This vision extends beyond mere military cooperation; it encompasses the formation of a geopolitical entity with its own agency in international affairs. This “drone coalition” can therefore be a precursor to something bigger, a steppingstone to realizing a more long-term vision. It’s about time that Europe, especially Eastern Europe, builds up its military power and claims its own agency. In this regard, in the long-term, the U.S. refraining from European affairs and withholding military help, like it's now doing with Ukraine, should be seen as a silver lining and an opportunity. Europe's dependency on the U.S. has always been a two-edged sword more akin to the business model of the pharmaceutical industry, whereby the patient is permanently hooked up on a drug, which doesn’t cure the disease but merely alleviates the symptoms. Reliance on the U.S. has been such a “drug” for Europe, which, in addition, strangled it and left at the mercy of the whims and sensibilities of American administrations. Moreover, as manifested by current events, this reliance stands on fragile grounds anyway, due to internal turmoil in the U.S.

Moreover, in the grand scheme of things, contrary to the commonly held belief, the U.S. never really saw Russia as an adversary, let alone an enemy to be destroyed. On the contrary, Russia was viewed as a crucial component of the global order and the American policy towards it was characterized by excessive, and certainly undeserved, goodwill. In the aftermath of the Bolshevik Revolution and during the Civil War, when time was ripe to facilitate the disintegration of Russia, the U.S. instead provided material and financial help, which gave the faltering Bolshevik government enough breathing room to consolidate its grip on power. Later, it was primarily thanks to the American companies that the Soviet Union was able to industrialize and build its military power under Stalin during late 1920s and 30s. During the Second World War, the Soviet Union was able to prevail against Nazi Germany solely thanks to the massive Lend Lease provided by the U.S., with the help of which the Red Army raped its way towards the center of Europe. And in the 90s, instead of disarming and denuclearizing a vulnerable Russia, in return for badly needed material and financial assistance (like in the early 1920s, Russia was again suffering from hunger), or even better, promoting its final disintegration, the U.S. government instead at first pressured Ukraine not to declare independence, and later when the Soviet Union eventually collapsed, coerced Ukraine to renounce its nuclear weapons and transfer them to Russia.

This stance was openly expressed by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s, for example, when he entertained the notion of the United States, the USSR, and Nationalist China collaborating to delineate spheres of influence, effectively co-managing global affairs. The subsequent American alliance with the USSR during World War II, along with the substantial aid provided to combat Nazi Germany, should therefore not be interpreted through the lens of a valiant crusade against Nazism, as is being portrayed by the post-war mainstream historiography and media. Such a simplification overlooks the deeper ideological and geopolitical motivations underlying American actions. These motivations were indifferent to the specific nature of the regime that would govern Germany or the broader European conduct during the 1930s but were rather guided by the policy outlook that saw Russia as an integral part of the global order. It’s just that Russians with their ungratefulness, apocalyptic hatred against the Western Civilization, and being guided by more visceral impulses undermined the extensive American goodwill, making the U.S. their reluctant adversary. Europeans, especially Eastern Europeans, who view U.S. as their reliable ally and defender against Russia should be aware of this.

One can have the best ideas and correct insights into various matters. However, if he doesn’t have the power and resources to implement them, he becomes dependent on those with the actual agency. But those with their own agency may not have the right ideas or enough boldness, which makes their more courageous and insightful dependents restrained in their actions. Eastern Europe has the best ideas on how to deal with Russia. Eastern Europe has not succumbed to the anti-white guilt complex and woke mind virus currently permeating Western societies, especially the U.S. Eastern Europe has the most correct ideas and healthiest instincts on what it means to be European and what belonging to Western Civilization entails. But as it sadly happens, it currently doesn’t have the agency to act upon them, let alone convince the Western countries. It’s the more neurotic, timid and guilt-tripped Western countries that happen to possess the military power and agency, which however they are scared to implement.  

The ongoing war and Ukraine's strategic countermeasures against Russia therefore signify a pivotal moment for Eastern Europe. It's an opportunity to forge a new path, one that leads away from dependency on external powers like the U.S. This moment in history could mark the beginning of a new era of European self-reliance and strength, with Eastern Europe, and quite likely Northern Europe, at its core.

Eastern Europe's insights into handling Russian aggression, Third World migration, and the preservation of European identity are invaluable. Yet, these ideas need a platform, a foundation of power and unity, to be fully realized. The concept of Intermarium, transformed into a modern-day Holy League against Russia that could take shape around joint efforts in drone production, offers just that – a starting point for a broader, more comprehensive alliance capable of safeguarding Europe's future and bringing Western Civilization to new heights.

This moment in history, with the war spilling over into Russian territory, is not just an opportunity but a clarion call for Eastern Europe to seize its destiny. Through collaboration, innovation, and a vision of shared destiny, the region can transform the current challenges into a steppingstone towards a more assertive and independent role on the global stage.

The failed Siege of Vienna was the beginning of the demise of the Ottoman Empire and its retreat from Europe. May Kyiv 2022 become the “Vienna” of Russians!