As soldiers from Latvia trained side-by-side with other soldiers last week in Alpena, back home in Riga, their parliament was taking what could be an important step for that country’s future.

In an unprecedented move by a former Soviet Union bloc country, Latvia’s parliament last Thursday designated Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism” because of the war in Ukraine.

Latvia, a Baltics state, formed its own country in 1991 after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Until 1940, and the Soviets occupation, it had been an independent state.

Last week’s declaration in the Latvian legislature was not well-covered in most publications in the West, but Reuters transmitted a small story of that legislature’s action.

The story immediately caught my attention because I knew Latvian soldiers were training in Alpena at the time, and because the Michigan National Guard has a longstanding partnership with Latvia. In fact, just last month, on July 1, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins was in Lansing and visited with Michigan National Guard officials to observe the two’s 30-year partnership of working and training together.

The close working relationship between Michigan and Latvia was highlighted in a press release from the National Guard regarding the visit.

“The commitment between Latvia and the Michigan National Guard continues to strengthen. We’re of like minds and will always be there as a partner,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “We’re committed to supporting Latvia any way possible and continue to heighten the value of our training and partnership initiatives.”

All of which is good. However, when you have an angry bear like Russia breathing down your back, the last thing I would think you would want to do is go about giving it a good poke.

And that is why I read with great interest the Reuters story.

And, make no mistake, the Latvian Parliament did not mince words in describing how they felt.

“Latvia recognizes Russia’s actions in Ukraine as targeted genocide against the Ukranian people,” the Parliament stated in a resolution, which was immediately applauded by Ukranian government officials.

I share the story this morning as another reminder of how small the world really can be at times. It is easy for us to think of Ukraine as “a million miles away” and, while most of us sympathize with their fight, 15 minutes after we’ve read the latest war update, we probably have forgotten mostly about it and gone on to tackle the next issue before us.

To do so would be a mistake, however.

Latvia is not at war with Russia today, but the legislature’s action last week certainly did not make the country friends with its huge neighbor next door.

In the weeks ahead, we need to watch that corner of the world very closely. Russia’s presence in Crimea and Ukraine has demonstrated its willingness to snub the nose of NATO and invade other sovereign countries.

It seems as if Russian President Vladimer Putin is hell-bent on returning former Soviet Union bloc countries back into its fold again.

Latvia may not be on Russia’s target list of such countries today.

But, given recent actions, who knows about tomorrow?

Bill Speer recently retired as the publisher and editor of The News. He can be reached at bspeer@thealpenanews.com.