Kaliningrad crisis: This is the Russian exclave in NATO territory - it is considered to be NATO's Achilles' heel
Created: 06/25/2022, 11:49 am
By: Bettina Menzel
A view of the Marshal Vasilevskiy floating storage and regasification facility off Kaliningrad in June 2022. © IMAGO/Vitaly Nevar / ITAR-TASS
The Suwalki gap near Kaliningrad is considered to be NATO's Achilles' heel.
The growing tensions in the Russian exclave are also on the agenda at the upcoming NATO summit.
Kaliningrad - In the Ukraine war, the Russian exclave Kaliningrad between Poland and Lithuania comes into focus.
Among military experts, the area is considered one of NATO's greatest weak points - Russia provoked military maneuvers there and has missiles capable of nuclear weapons.
Kaliningrad exclave in the Ukraine war: since 1991, the Russian city has been dependent on land imports from the EU
Since Lithuania's independence in 1991, the Russian city of Kaliningrad no longer has a direct land connection to Russia.
The exclave between Poland and Lithuania is therefore dependent on land imports from EU countries.
In the current Kaliningrad crisis, Russia accuses the Lithuanian government of a blockade and threatens "retaliatory measures".
Lithuania is citing EU sanctions over the Ukraine war when it restricts rail connections to Kaliningrad for certain goods.
Kaliningrad, which belonged to Germany as Königsberg until 1946, is located in the middle of NATO territory.
The current tensions there are particularly sensitive.
Fear is growing in Baltic states because they border directly on Russia or its ally Belarus.
Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania were part of the Soviet Union for around 45 years and unilaterally declared their independence in 1990.
It was only a year and a half later, in 1991, that the Soviet leadership gave in and recognized independent status, according to the
Federal Agency for Civic Education
.
The Baltic States have been members of NATO since 2004.
"Lithuania's admission into NATO is a signal to Russia that Lithuania will never, ever be taken over by Russia again," said then-President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, according to the
New York Times
.
Today there are NATO bases in Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which were strengthened again after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Moscow interpreted this as a military threat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin generally considers the eastward expansion of NATO to be a danger.
Ukraine War: Why the Poland-Lithuania border is one of NATO's greatest weaknesses
View over the illuminated promenade on the Pregel River in the Russian city of Kaliningrad, which was called Königsberg until 1946 (archive image, 2015).
© picture alliance/dpa |
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The so-called Suwałki Gap runs between the national border of Lithuania and Poland.
This corridor is about 100 kilometers long and connects the two states.
Important power lines, roads, railway lines and a gas pipeline run there.
However, the Suwałki corridor is considered one of NATO's greatest weaknesses.
Because there is concern that Russia could occupy this line.
This would cut off Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the land route to the rest of NATO territory.
If Russia were planning an attack on NATO, experts believe that the Suwałki gap is the best strategic option.
In addition, Russia has stationed the Russian Baltic Sea fleet in Kaliningrad and has had Iskander-M missiles there since 2018, as reported by the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
.
This type of missile can be equipped with both conventional and nuclear warheads.
In early May, Russia conducted major military maneuvers in the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad, simulating the launch of the Iskander missile.
Russia also uses the intrusion into NATO airspace as a threatening gesture.
In 2022 alone, Russian planes flew illegally into the airspace in Estonia, Lithuania, off the Swedish island of Gotland and off the German island of Rügen.
Ukraine war: NATO countries want to talk about strengthening the eastern flank at the upcoming summit
Kaliningrad seaport: The Russian Ministry of Transport announced that Russia has sufficient capacity to supply the Kaliningrad region with the necessary resources and goods by sea.
© IMAGO/Vitaly Nevar /ITAR-TASS
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In the Kaliningrad crisis, the last word has probably not been spoken.
In any case, Russia stated that it had sufficient capacity to supply the Kaliningrad region with the necessary resources and goods by sea.
The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been pushing for significantly greater support from NATO allies since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine.
In Lithuania, the Bundeswehr with more than 1000 soldiers (as of June) is currently the leading nation in a NATO battle group to secure the eastern flank.
At the NATO summit starting on June 29, strengthening the alliance on the eastern flank is one of the items on the agenda.