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In the Ukraine war, fears of a Russian attack on the Baltics are growing. In this case, NATO has its sights set on a sensitive target: Kaliningrad.
New York/Kaliningrad – It’s been raging for more than two years Ukraine war; There are now fears that the conflict will spread throughout Europe. One fear: If Russia triumphs in its neighboring country, it could Wladimir Putin order the attack on the Baltics in the near future. The Russian exclave Kaliningrad – once the capital of East Prussia – could play a decisive role. If things come to an extreme, they must NATO Former NATO commander-in-chief James Stavridis believes that this is exactly where the attack will take place.
If Putin attacks the Baltics: NATO must then “neutralize Kaliningrad”
“NATO will use the Baltic Sea to put pressure on Kaliningrad, which acts as a geographical dividing line between the Baltic NATO countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – and the rest of the alliance,” writes Stavridis in an article for the US portal Bloomberg. The former naval admiral is aware of the strategic and military importance of the exclave, which is why Kaliningrad “must be neutralized in the event of war.”
The aim is to prevent Russian ground troops from “taking control of the critical Suwalki corridor”. Lithuania borders Belarus, which is an ally of Russia, and Kaliningrad, Russia. A narrow land corridor runs west from Lithuania to Poland between the two countries – the so-called Suwalki Gap. The exclave itself is located directly on the Baltic Sea and has no direct land connection to Russia.
“Nato Sea”: The Baltic Sea could become Putin’s Achilles heel in the event of war
In any case, the Baltic Sea is more or less entirely in the hands of the alliance, which is why analysts have been talking about the “NATO lake” since Sweden and Finland joined. Meanwhile, Putin continues to react to the Baltic approaches to St. Petersburg – ironically once touted by the Russian tsars as a “window to the Western world,” as Stavridis points out. A window that could be Russia’s undoing in the event of war.
In the event of an escalation, “NATO would have to use its Baltic Sea to put pressure on tiny Kaliningrad.” After all, there is not only Russia’s Baltic Sea fleet there, but also “significant air and missile troops.”
NATO is rehearsing for an emergency: major military maneuvers at the gates of Russia
In a few weeks, from June 2nd to 16th, NATO will hold its annual “Baltops” exercise. It should be loud NATO information According to this, tests are being carried out to “defend regional aggression and strengthen strategic relationships” in the Baltic Sea. The German Navy will also be involved. The maneuver, which took place in 1971, grows in size almost every year: last year the exercise involved almost 50 ships, 45 aircraft and around 6,000 sailors.
There are repeated voices coming from Moscow that describe the NATO presence in the Baltic Sea as a provocation. The other side accuses Russia of already engaging in electronic warfare. There were recently GPS failures in civil aviation over the Baltics, which resulted in several disruptions. James Stavridis also assumes that Russia is behind the attacks. According to the ex-NATO admiral, Putin could even increase corresponding “cyber and electronic warfare” next month.
Stavridis warns against taking Putin’s threats seriously. “Three years ago, the idea that he would launch an attack on Ukraine also seemed unlikely,” the former NATO commander argued. “Don’t try to predict the actions of the man in the Kremlin.”
Scholz assures military support in the Baltic Sea region: “Defend every centimeter”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also does not want to underestimate Russia’s rulers. During a visit to Lithuania last Monday, he assured the Baltics of reliable military support. “Germany stands unwaveringly on the side of the Baltic states,” said Scholz in Pabrade, Lithuania, where he visited German soldiers. “And that means that we protect each other and that all states can rely on us to defend every inch of their territory.”
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chancellor has been to the Baltics several times to publicly assure the Baltic Sea region of solidarity. The governments in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia repeatedly warn that after the war in its neighboring country, Russia could also test NATO’s defensive will and create military conditions for this within a few years. (nak)
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