In a recent broadcast on Russia 1, a state-run TV show in Moscow, Vladimir Solovyov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggested the idea of incorporating a NATO member country, specifically Portugal, into Russia.
Solovyov, discussing Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, stated that there's a reason why the country should be a part of Moscow. These comments were translated and posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's minister of internal affairs.
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Solovyov's remarks come amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began with Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He expressed a personal liking for Portugal, saying, "You don't need it but I like it very much," and even mentioned Hawaii as a potential target, citing teachings from Soviet military commanders about natural obstacles.
This statement aligns with other recent comments from Moscow officials and Putin allies regarding NATO members. For instance, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy chairman of Moscow's Security Council, referred to Poland as a "historical enemy" and warned of the potential collapse of Polish statehood. Additionally, Yevgeny Satanovsky, president of Russia's Institute of the Middle East, appeared on the same state-run news channel advocating for Russia to reclaim Alaska from the United States.
This is far from the first time that Solokov has issued threats of this magnitude during the war. Most recently, he warned that Germany should be careful, and that Berlin would burn.
He has also previously threatened both Poland and Sweden, and the big question is simply who Solokov will turn his anger towards next. It seems highly unlikely that Russia would have any success in conquering Portugal. So, is this anything more than Russian propaganda?
