Tensions in Eastern Europe have risen after recent reports of Russian military deployments near the Baltic states. Satellite data suggests Moscow is moving troops north of the region, which could threaten the Suwałki Pass, a narrow 65-kilometer corridor in Poland that connects Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to the rest of NATO.
Russia's interest in this strategic point is not new. Since the 1990s, the Kremlin has been pushing for a land corridor connecting the Kaliningrad region (formerly Konigsberg) with Belarus, an ally. However, Poland has consistently rejected these demands, aware of the risk it would pose to NATO security.
The size of the Suwałki Pass has been emphasized for years by senior Western military commanders. In 2015, former U.S. Army Europe commander General Ben Hodges called it “one of the most explosive points on the world map,” warning of the logistical difficulties NATO would face in quickly responding to an aggression in the area.
On the other hand, former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves warned of the possibility of a joint attack from the east and west, separating the Baltic states from the rest of Europe and testing NATO's unity. This scenario would pose a challenge to Western defense, as it would force NATO to supply Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia only through the Baltic Sea.
Security experts warn of the risk of rising tensions and the possibility of hybrid actions and potential attacks from Russia and Belarus. (A2 Televizion)
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