The editors state that “if Putin's tanks ever appear, they will likely strike the approximately 80-kilometer strip of Polish-Lithuanian territory separating Belarus from Königsberg“, i.e. the Suwałki Isthmus. This would result in the severance of NATO's land connection with three Baltic allies.
“If Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were isolated, there would be a risk that could share the fate of large areas of Ukraine. At least this is the scenario Putin may foresee,” the Telegraph speculates.
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What is the importance of Via Baltica in the context of NATO defense?
What are Poland and the Baltic states planning in response to Russia's aggression?
What is defense spending in Poland and the Baltic countries?
What are the consequences of a possible Russian invasion of Poland and Lithuania?
Via Baltica as a rescue from Russian aggression?
The British newspaper noted that “huge efforts are now being made to thwart possible Russian aggression.” As she explained, Poland and the Baltic states are building, among others: anti-tank ditches and anti-tank fortifications called dragon's teeth. In addition, all four countries are withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which, according to the editorial team, “will enable them to plant millions of landmines on their most sensitive borders.”
The Telegraph writes that “every Baltic state is inherently vulnerable to attack”, which is related to the lack of the so-called strategic depth, i.e. sufficient territory to be able to absorb an attack and rebuild after each enemy attack.
The situation changed with the decision of Sweden and Finland to join NATO in 2023. “The Baltic Sea is now a NATO (internal) lake, and both shores of the Gulf of Finland and the access to St. Petersburg are within the borders of the Alliance,” the article reads.
The funds allocated for defense are also evidence of preparations for border defense. As she noticed, “this year, Poland will allocate 4.5% of GDP to defense, Lithuania – 4%, Latvia – 3.7%, and Estonia – 3.4%, and all these countries are significantly ahead of the United States with 3.2% and Great Britain with 2.4%.”
