How Russia could cut NATO off from the Baltic states | DW News
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2023
- The Suwalki gap is a narrow strip of land stretching between Poland and Lithuania. If Russia and Belarus were to successfully invade and close it, the Baltic NATO-trio of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia would be cut off from its allies to the south.
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#NATO #Russia #Suwalki
The Suwalki Gap is not as much of a weakness as a strength. It's not only a narrow link between NATO countries, but it's also an airlock, isolating Kalinigrad and the lower Baltic from Russian supply lines. The glass is half full, not half empty.
This
@DaveDorenbergVeltman Really? Lol. It's a gap for Putler and a bridge for NATO. Look at the map. It never seizes to amaze me how Russians knowingly drink the Koolaid. Just look at the the Gulag episodes, running for years, family members dieing in near every family but no, everyone drinks Stalin's words. What's wrong with the Russians?
@ what?
Only military personnel live in Kaliningrad. The task of this area is to keep nuclear warheads ready for attack. You can attack there, but it's like attacking a tank with a stick. You can do that, but that's why you're probably mentally retarded.
I thought russia setup Kalinigrad on purpose so its a Strength for them not for nato?
Kaliningrad looks a lot more vulnerable than the Suwalki gap.
Some might say that Russia has set a precedent by annexing the Crimea that would legitimise Germany taking back Königsberg?
Should have taken Kaliningrad in response to Ruzzia invading Krimea years ago. That way a deal might have been made to exchange both.
Indeed, considering Putin sent all the troops stationed there to die in Ukraine. Meanwhile Poland and Lithuania has ordered a shitload of HIMARS and tanks.
@@TrixiLovesYou Not to worry, when the Russians are in desperate need of money again, they'll try to sell Kaliningrad, like they tried once before. It will be small change.
@TrixiLovesYou that would literally cause ww3. Even if it didn't it would be a highly bloody and deadly affair and certainly result in significant casualties. Unlike russia annexation of crimea where they mostly used surprised to simply march into the region nato would need to fight for every inche. So why cause hundred of nato troops and likely polish civilians to die as well as risk ww3, other crimea
As a Lithuanian it's annoying to see these videos, Russia won't invade the Baltics because they already failing one war. Such videos will only put fear on tourists and investors who are interested in our countries.
If Russia was indeed inept and failing in the war, do you think they would be coming up with these videos?
As russian we install trump back in office and we get litva poland and ost germani. By the way Polish americans are pro trump right wing proud Boys. Polish americans will be happy see poland back in gulag lol.
right they can barely handle Ukraine let alone NATO
If Russia is failing, NATO would have finished them off considering it's nearly 2 years since the war began.
As an American I agree with you .if they are so concerned with that area , put a NATO base there RuSSia forces and weapons systems are eliminated by at least 40-50%, by now
First Russia would have to build an army……
What is left of the Russian army is in Ukraine getting destroyed 😂😂😂😂😂
Just as NATO has “the army” run away from Afghanistan 😁 without looking back!
@@koordrozita7236 The USSR ran away from Afghanistan in 1989, after 10 long years. Then the USSR imploded. Ha, ha, ha, ha
@@koordrozita7236 NATO never were in Afghanistan
@@koordrozita7236♿
Is that some kind of joke? Russia can't even defend Moscow from Ukrainian drones. How are they supposed to take on NATO?
Have you seen them "protecting" their strategic bombers by laying _tires_ on the wings?
Putin has Belarus and North Korea. What happened to the counteroffensive? Ukraine after 3 months only regain a dot size territory.
The so-called 2nd most powerful military in the world using cope cages and rubber to protect their million dollar assets. Im glad their hype is over
I think the Tyers are to stop their own pilots flying them to Ukraine and surrendering.
@@napoleonbonaparte1260 So why there's so many orc trolls trying to discourage the Ukraine Ivan?
@@WorldCitizen0000 come on man, corruption in Ukraine is rampant. Zelensky addressed it already thats why the counteroffensive is slow. We are pouring bilions of dollars to Ukraine I have the right to call them out with that dot size territory.
Not that we shouldn't remain ready, as said in the video it was dumb to attack Ukraine but that didn't stop them. However considering Russia cant even manage to take the Donbas I think Russia attacking NATO is a bit of a stretch.
This has been a key point of my argument that we (the west) are over committed in Ukraine. A lot of people act like if Russia takes ground then next thing you know they will be in Berlin.
NATO and Ukraine not being able to defend the majority of Donbas seized by Russia after hundreds of billions of military aid and 8 years of fortifications should be a cause of concern about NATO's overrated capabilities. A NATO trained army couldn't even beat a bunch of prisoners in Bakhmut
@@antony6799 I remember the arrogance of Putin back in February last year when they started the war, now it's a karma because Russia is also burning now. Kiekiekiekie
@@aaronkochenrath5863 🤣🤣🤣Yes! weakened Russian army with no will to take Ukraine will all of a sudden roll Poland and other NATO forces over. I guess they will take Berlin in 3 days.
@@chriss521 Lol burning? The only thing burning now are those overhyped leopards and challenger tanks
Weakness is a terrible word to lose. Even if Russia somehow closed off the Baltics, the overwhelming majority of NATO forces would still be intact and would respond
would they? History, even most recent one - teaches us otherwise
Regardless, it's good to see this getting military attention. I think in general Europe + UK should strengthen all current weaknesses to have contingencies in the very unlikely event that America were ever to leave NATO, or be distracted elsewhere (China). As an American I hope none of that ever happens but part of ensuring it doesn't is being overprepared for it. Russia, China, etc... only try these things when they perceive weakness.
Exactly Belarus and kalinigrad would get steam rolled
@@anonymousanonym7523 Even if NATO doesn't act, Poland and Lithuania has more than enough force to take it back and then level Kaliningrad. Poland bought 500 HIMARS, just let that sink in. Lithuania has HIMARS and tanks on order. Also Kaliningrad is now basically defenseless anyway, since Putin sent all the troops stationed there to be canon fodder in Ukraine. It will take years if not decades to recover.
nato got humiliated in afganistan for 20 years its got no hope against russia
Achilles heel? So, you're suggesting that NATO could be defeated because of this piece of land? Utter rubbish.
Firstly, the report completely ignores airpower, both as a defensive tool, and as a means of staying connected to the baltic states. Secondly, Kaliningrad is totally surrounded by NATO countries and is more of a weak point for Russia, rather than the reverse. It would be crushed in a heartbeat.
This is a bit silly. The Soviet Union couldn't even cut off West Berlin when they had it surrounded. NATO has this thing called an air force, plus dominance of the Baltic Sea now that Finland and Sweden are on the team. Any war Russia starts to unite itself with Kaliningrad ends with Russia losing Kaliningrad.
They will use something that affect nato 😂😂😂
Well said. I agree
well kaliningrad has some toys that will bleed nato before it cease to exist, hasn't it?
That was nearly 90 years ago! Things have changed since then!
@@paruhangrai7389 Russia has removed troops and tanks from Kaliningrad to reinforce in Ukraine, so..... NO! The Ford is in the Baltic, or was recently, it could sink the entire Russian Baltic fleet in a few hours and destroy the useless missile defenses of Kaliningrad at the same time. Tiny carrot putin and the potato king of Belarus are both loud mouthed braggarts without any military knowledge, they aren't attacking NATO. Why be scared of Russia? They CLAIMED to be the 2nd best army in the world and they are not even the 2nd best army in Ukraine at the moment, behind the AFU and Wagner!.
Asinine argument. It assumes Poland and Lithuania, not to mention nato would just sit back and watch. It’s more likely Kaliningrad would fall before Russia takes the gap.
How would Kaliningrad fall, Russia has nukes based there
@@mrjerzheel Hard to eat when no supplies can come through
@@mrjerzheelso what. Cut the supply lines and access to codes. How old are they now?
@@mrjerzheel Nukes that won't work unless they are completely rebuilt every few years, a very costly and precise sustained effort. We all know how good Russia is at maintenance and not just pocketing the cash, right?
@@mrjerzheel Because there are less than 10K Russian troops in Kaliningrad and a few dozen tanks, neither the troops nor the tanks are any good, the Russian air force would be shot down as soon as they enter the sky and NATO would roll over the Russian cowards like swiss cheese. Russia always claimed to have the 2nd best military in the world and it is clear that they do not even have the 2nd best military in Ukraine, behind BOTH the AFU and Wagner.
Sure they can cut supplies; but they're also surrounded on both sides by Nato, on a thin line, within easy reach of all of the artillery + aviation of the alliance. They would be quickly dominated and wouldn't be able to hold it. And then? They'd lose Kaliningrad.
Loss of Kaliningrad would not be accepted...else there would be a nuclear war.
And if Russia army is to attack they would do so in great numbers that they would simply occupy the Baltic states in a short time.
Latvia ... Lithuania... Estonia are tiny state that wouldn't give Russia problems like large and big Ukraine.
and in a real war millions of Russians would be mobilized the Baltic states has no chance at all cus Russia army would attack from all sides
@@JusticeGranville-uk8ww what are you smoking? the Zs can't handle 1 country and you think the answer is nuclear war if they can't fend off all of nato? an ICBM onto mosco would end any nuclear war because nobody wants 1. wouldn't surprise me if the rusty russian nukes didn't even work
@@A.Gentlemann Russia does not recognize the Baltic states being in NATO.
Baltic states are rebellious Russian regions that would be retaken by the Russians in the future.
If NATO attacks Russian assets anywhere in response then Russia would use nuclear weapons on all NATO countries
@@A.Gentlemann lets side nuclear weapons. in fully fledged war russia with millions of soilders, 10thousands of tanks and artillery,thounds of fighter aircraft, whole economy invested in war i don't think whole eastern europe stand a chance
Russia will just invade from 3 directions and break them. They are helpless
I have to ask : Could NATO cut off Russia/Belarus from access to Kaliningrad? Yes they could! From land, sea and air! Would the Russians get angry? Yes, but who cares?
OK General armchair, your understanding of military matters is infantile.
@@throughput6674 Russian surprise attacks poor Ukraine and country right next door but will have better luck against NATO member even further away in distance ?
NATO air bases would just rape any Russian ground invader that still had fuel,food and ammo to move .
Russia's military bluff days ended 19 months ago .
@@throughput6674
Like the Russian generals running this war? 😂
Kyiv in 3 days Vatnik, Kyiv in 3 days!
@@throughput6674 OK General Sofacushion.... it doesnt take a "general" to state the obvious. Get your panties unbunched.
How to get to nuclear war 101 😂
Somebody help me understand: how is the Suwalki gap an achilles heel for NATO? Finland and Sweden joining NATO means we have a huge land corridor to the Baltic states. I’m no expert but it seems to me that the risks to Russia (i.e. NATO encircling Kaliningrad) far outweigh the risks to NATO.
There is no land corridor from Finland to Baltic states, however any attempt to take Suwalki gap would mean cutting Russians off from the Baltic Sea, first by Danish Straits and then in Gulf of Finland where St. Petersburg is in the "cul de sac". It's not just encircling Kaliningrad but also at least blockade for St. Petersburg. It would probably mean blocking Murmansk as well and land transportation from Murmansk to St. Petersburg. Finland's NATO membership already changed everything and when also Sweden will be ratified soon enough, Baltic countries will become much more defendable because it's not just that land route anymore NATO having air and naval supremacy in Baltic Sea. More like Russian attempt to take Suwalki gap would mean tit for tat, large scale air raids and naval barrages to Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg and Murmansk, perhaps the total annihilation of those cities.
@@TK8866275 Much obliged!
You give the Russians much too much credit for having any capabilities to close the gap and maintain the ground they take. They can't even hold the ground they took in Ukraine.
ukranians, your real target is PUTIN HIMSELF. not those rusyan slaves in rusya
You know how to bulshit 😁
The point is spread fear to convice the people to support the increase of defense's wallet.
Ruzzia now a paper tiger.
@@Ukie88 Always was, they accomplished the greatest con in history, making people think they were ever a world power through bullsh*t and plywood.
Balls Man, send the Finns, they'll do what Finns do, they will speak through their actions.
Are you seriously trying to tell us that NATO could not stop this from happening?!? All of NATO. It may be time for NATO become more aggressive.
We should eliminate Russia and be done with it. Should've disarmed them in '91 before they made their insecurities everyone else's problem.
If it depended on Germany the Baltics would fall, luckily the Baltics and Poland are far more prepared. Germany can't even deal with the Russian moles among them!
@@WorldCitizen0000 Germany needs to shape up, they've been infiltrated for sure. Thankfully the Baltics and Poland know what's up.
Denmark & Sweden could cut off shipping to St. Petersburg in a few hours.
And Estonia and Finland to kaliningrad
And Poland the entire Kaliningrad
The Russian couldn't even defeat Ukraine, there is no way Russia could cut the Suwalki gap. They are not the USSR, and Belarus needs it's army to suppress it's population and could only put up a token force. Russian can attack but air power would devastate their ground forces, as Ukraine doesn't have air superiority but NATO does. Look at all the problems a few drones can have on armor and trucks, let alone what F-16's, F-15E's and more can do against armor.
Then imagine what a wing of B-52's could do to those miles-long Russian convoys, or Moscow itself. They can get just about anywhere on the planet in 14 hours.
Lorl Russia have the air power too not like NATO will be the one with air power there
@@Percival5so does Ukraine. And this is quite a good comparison that's just about how big the difference in force is between NATO and ruzzia
@@jooseppib1082 Russia have better weapons than NATO that proven in Ukraine
@@Percival5 sure losing 3000 tanks is the ultimate proof of the superior vodka vatniks
Cutting the Baltic states off by land still leaves Russia with the fact that NATO will own Both the Baltic Sea and the sky.
The possible strategic gains have indeed been reduced recently.
What if poland take that land after Soviet Union
@@teswin345 You don't know what Soviet Union is if think they can, Union is the will of ALL people, the sons and daughters of the labor class that is not something you want to go against but be part of. Sure some leader used it in the wrong way but so can anything be.
@@CGplay186 Each new generation of Soviet apologetics gets more absurd than the last.
@@teswin345 Königsberg should be given back to Germany if the Germans want it in the first place. Now it is full of Russians which might prove to be a problematic population.
If that happened, control of Kaliningrad would cease to exist and those forces in the Suwalki Gap would be decimated, too. I am always amused when I hear Russian talking heads spouting off about attacking NATO. Does anyone think they are holding back their really strong forces for another attack. B.S.
Agreed, these reporters are talking like we haven't been watching Russia fail miserably at every aspect of war for the better part of two years, and like NATO is all of a couple hundred grunts in one location.
The Baltic countries wouldn't be cut off in case of seizing Suwalki corridor anymore with Sweden and Finland in the alliance.
The Suwalki corridor is not a weak point. The weak point in NATO are countries that do not spend enough funds and resources on their defense - such as Germany. All three Baltic states and Poland have long allocated more than 2% of their GDP to defense and are building a fence and installing security systems on their borders with Belarus and Russia - moreover, in the next 2-3 years, these countries plan to increase defense GDP by as much as 3% amount. Latvia has already started to increase the size of the army - soldiers, military equipment, military training, military bases, military industry, etc.
In short, these four countries are preparing very seriously for the defense of their country and population - the question is rather with the other countries who think that their countries are beyond Russia's reach - is Germany really ready for a real war like the one in Ukraine at the moment, if Russia lands a landing party by sea and air, for example, near Rostock, because even if Finland and Sweden are part of NATO - the Russian fleet is still the largest in the Baltic Sea?
You are right, Germany is the country that needs to invest in its defence forces. A Russian mole, Carsten L shared intelligence about the war in Ukraine and the Wagner mercenary group and received roughly €400,000 (£340,000), according to German reports. This is from a BBC report 3 days ago. And increasingly other NATO countries are concerned about sharing information with Germany as their government doesn't want to accept the fact there's very likely a few more moles according to a report on TVP World.
Also the most competent fleet ? Nobody really thinks that .
I think Trumps second term will cause a serious re evaluation by Europe as to its defence. Maybe exactly what it needs.
The russian fleet is overhyped and suffers extensively from corruption schemes. It took a country with almost no navy to sink the moskva battleship.
@@Kicklighter.Atrump is in prison, he ain't getting a second term
NATO countries have encircled Russia from all sides. US alone has several hundreds of military bases all the world around. Your "fear of Russia" sounds like hipocracy. Compare US military spending with the one of Russia. US spends on arms 20 times more than Russia. What danger are you talking about?
finally someone with a brain... luckily not everyone is brainwashed.
They call it world war while it's Europeans fighting themselves. 😂
Suwalki gap is the fastest way to loose Kaliningrad naturally 😆 Bloodimir, yes please
W/Finland in NATO and soon Sweden, That gap will be a thing of the past bc they'll have another close entry thanks to the Nordic countries. Maybe by Sea but it's better than the alternative.
There's only 1 MiG29 left in Belarus, and Wagner is gone. That argues against Russia looking west right now.
By sea soon won't even be the poor option it currently is. Poland is buying more Naval Strike Missiles from Kongsberg (the Norwegians) for coastal defense. That's advanced gear; the USN is replacing their Harpoons with them. Range is 200-250 km, and the Swedish coast is only about 180 km away.
Russia has only about half of its total combat power left, and nearly all of that is bleeding in Ukraine. Russia isn't going to decide to suddenly start a whole second war. The Baltic states are right to be vigilant, but that would be a short and decisive fight.
More likely Russia would lose Konigsberg than cutting NATO
Mate you don't know what you are talking about
@@jakobsovic9991 way better than you. Ridiculous russian army wouldn't last 1 minute if crossed a NATO border
@@AlexdaCunha Kaliningrad is a highly defended small area that is easy to hold and would be a nightmare for NATO troops to invade. I suggest if you wanna talk about politics online you should look at the situation from both sides and not be subjective. Also I doubt you know more than me.
@@jakobsovic9991 small area without supplies. For sure it would last a couple of hours
@@AlexdaCunhasupplies? They have that covered
I’m not sure Russia could win against the Baltic countries, let alone NATO. Plus if they close the gap, NATO would just go through Belarus.
Belarus with Russian TNH or which One. Don’t fight real life wars with holiwood experience
Latvia has 10 thousand active soldiers. TEN THOUSAND my friend. What can Baltics do themselves in terms of defense is start building entrenchmets and fortifications and defense lines along their borders. Because the countries are much much smaller than territory of Ukraine that was annexed in a matter of days and takes Ukraine 2 years to make minimal gains - it would take at least 160 days for Nato to mount a responce - as per region's defense plans - it WILL be to late.
But you sure that Russia want that war. So media win already. 😁
They could very easily other power the baltic. The Russian military is larger than the entire population of Latvia. It would be fairly easy. Russia is one of the largest if not the largest in Europe (tho I think the French beatsbthem)
They are already fighting NATO and NATO isn’t winning.
How NATO could cut Russia off from Kaliningrad: by deciding that they want to.
Glad somebody is thinking!!👍👍
@@AndrewJacobson-cq2om If Russia made such a lone then it would violate the NATO mutual defence treaty and there would be general war! All this speculation is claptrap!
@@AndrewJacobson-cq2om Lithuania already tried this and were warned by the US to reopen the railway. Its an act of war that could isolate Lithuania from NATO protection.
Yes.
@@khankrum1 Anything is possible, planning for a what if seems reasonable!!
Russia attacking NATO is like an ant going after Mike Tyson.
Not that bad
Like NATO attaching Afghanistan.
Lol
@@moiseshuerta3984 ?
@@moiseshuerta3984 Ridiculous argument, they were hiding amongst cvilians, wearing civilian clothes etc. I don't remember the Taliban having fleets of tanks, armoured vehicles, helicopters and fighter jets flying around doing SEAD, CAS and CAP etc...
@@Aeronaut1975
Like NATO attacking Afghanistan.
3:49 That girl was just a little bit terrified 😀
Ruzzian version of a surprise attack is to mass troops and equipment on the border for months to years, thats how slow the ruzzian logistics are. During that time the Us navy alone has time to swarm the baltic sea with so many warships that the fish wont have any space left to swim in.
It would be the Come at me bro version of "suprise" attack and it would be over a fev hours after it started
Russia could destroy the usa very very quickly. 9/11 will seem like a small picnic
No. That's Russia's Achilles heel not NATO.
Kaliningrad can overrun by NATO in one swoop if they want.
Nato wouldnt invade Kaliningrad for fear of nukes being used
@@mrjerzheel I didn't say NATO want to invade Kaliningrad.
I said they can invade Kaliningrad if Russia's threat become reality in that region.
NATO needs to build the biggest and most massive defense lines ever seen right at the border to Belarus. If done properly there is no way Russia would even think of doing this.
It this does happen, its literally NATO's fault lmfao. There's no reason why they shouldnt have good defenses on these border regions.
In the event of war, we should be occupying this land within the first hour.
OK General armchair, your understanding of military matters is infantile.
Massive static defenses to deter an aggressive neighbor from the east? They should get french contractors on this
Nato is nothing but military dogs😅😅 they can only do that to the powerless and defenseless country not russia, go drink your beer and sleep😅😅
Russian surprise attacks poor Ukraine and country right next door but will have better luck against NATO member even further away in distance ?
NATO air bases would just rape any Russian ground invader that still had fuel,food and ammo to move .
Russia's military bluff days ended 19 months ago .
This mission is so possible since Sweden and Finland joined the alliance.
Sweden aren't technically part of NATO yet, but yes, they would most likely have some role.
Another triumph by tiny balding elderly wannabe Tzar/Stalin yer 'man' Putin
Trade offer:
Russia makes a move on the Suwalki Gap
Nato takes Kalinigrad, Belarus, and the Suwalki Gap
OK General armchair, your understanding of military matters is infantile.
Russia makes a move and the NATO air force just has a field day with Russia .
they touched Kaliningrad, Belarus ?? its Nkue time 🛰🚀
@@123654qaz Russia has no choice how else can Russia fight back without a suicidal nuclear war ?
Russia troops attacking NATO from Belarus is the same as attacking from Russia .
More like we remove Russia from the board entirely.
With the addition of Finland and soon Sweden to NATO, I don't think that the Suwalki gap is as much a problem as it once was
Once Sweden joins NATO the Baltic Sea will be lake NATO and resupply/reinforcement to the Baltic states will be much easier
If anything Kalinengrad is the place in trouble
If Russia attacked the Suwalki Gap, why wouldn't we move from Poland and seize Königsberg? It would be incredibly vulnerable. Russia would loose far more than it would gain. Then there's the state of its army at present.
its called Kaliningrad
In the event of war NATO armed columns will not be restricted to moving through a narrow gap. In such a situation Belarus and Kaliningrad will be available as well.
@@C-lp6jb belarus now has nukes poland invades they'll have a nuke in return
Russia is not a threat any longer; it's weak and poor. It's evident that the threat to the Baltic states from Russia has significantly diminished over recent years. Russia's weakened state and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have certainly put it on the brink of collapse. The focus should now be on maintaining stability and cooperation in the region, fostering a peaceful and secure future for the Baltic states. Let's hope for continued progress in this direction.
And neither Sweden or Finland would let our Baltic cousins be occupied by Russia ever again.
Wow, a reasoned, logical response. I am SHOCKED to find another such reasonable person on the internet! Nice to meet another Unicorn.
If Russia is not a threat, why are Nato nations peeing on themselves everyday because of fear of Russia? Let Nato attack Russia and finish the game if you think Russia is weak. Why keep barking and talking nonsense about Russia everyday?😊
It was the usa that almost with bankrupt recently and the uk which it's 2nd biggest city actually did go bankrupt 🤣
@@jamesgreen1116 Almost bankrupt? The US economy even with a demented fool in charge is in better shape than the kleptocratic Russia today or the corrupt cowards of the USSR, which is exactly why the USSR FAILED!
It's not a "gap", it's a border between two NATO member states.
It looks more to me like a Kill Box than an Achilles Heel. We'll see Lukashenko fall off his high horse first.
Im fairly sure there are things called planes - air planes that have the ability to fly from one country to another - these might come in handy if one country trying to block roads.
Unfortunately the highest number of AA density in the world is actually located in Kaliningrad. That means no planes are flying.
@@gaborrajnai6213NATO will send drones. They are able to hit Moscow and military bases.
@@gaborrajnai6213 Yet Russia can't even defend Moscow. The Russian air defense is a joke on par with the rest of Russia's military. Air power could wipe Kaliningrad off the map, and Moscow too, in a matter of hours. They'd never even see it coming.
@gaborrajnai6213 There would be no anti-aircraft in Kaliningrad within an hour of Russia attacking the gap.
The Suwalki Gap is Polish territory i'm led to believe, so why can't NATO forces just close the Belarus border off!
They could do a lot more than that. That's why Putin is all talk.
Russians know they won’t last a week against nato air power.
Air power would have to take out all S400s, it took Nato 78 days to defeat Serbia
Have you ever asked yourself why it's nearly 2 years, and still NATO is hesitating in attacking Russia? We would all be dead if they dare try that.
The gap is located between two NATO countries. If either Russia or Belarus were to invade they would be initiating a war with all of the NATO countries as article 5 of the agreement would be activated requiring mutual defence. Also doing so could result in the Russian territory of Kaliningrad being lost or at least totally isolated from the rest of Russia. Also with the Baltic Sea being totally surrounded by NATO countries Russian would also be denied any support from the sea. It would be a huge strategic mistake for Belarus and especially for Russia where their military is heavily engaged with the war they started in Ukraine
So what? They have planned to take back that region for several decades.
Completely agreed, but might be the reason they are increasing nato training is to provoke and not to protect?
What a weakness... Weakness is having military presence in Kaliningrad to acquire Suwalki gap that gets annihilated in 6 hours with all the NATO presence around. Baltics is not a bottlenecked territory, Kaliningrad is, especially after Finland had joined NATO and even more once Sweden joins.
it was much more critical before Russians war against Ukraine, since now Finland and Sweden would assist with providing air and sea routes and cover of the baltic states and sea. In such a conflict against NATO As Russia I would be more scared of NATO special forces infiltrating Karelia and blocking the land routes to Murmansk and the northern fleet, as NATO airforces began bombing St Petersburg and Kaliningrad fleets and military bases..
The Russians wouldn't stand a chance holding that gap. Especially now. They are near depleted of soldiers and are seeking foreign fighters on mass. It's a risk in all out war yes, but it would be too difficult to hold by Russia and the price they would pay in casualties of war would be horrendous. It could be a flash point however. It's drone territory for sure.
They need more than one highway. They need multiple back roads.
It would be difficult for Russia to take over the Suwałki Corridor. It is a swampy area with many rivers and lakes. Regaining these areas by NATO would be quite easy due to good access roads from Poland, and these areas are located close to the Baltic Sea, so NATO could use the strength of its navy
I think russia is in a sorry state, so now is when all NATO/OTAN countries should be strengthening their military. Now is time to upgrade weapons and train. Now is time to stop talking about capabilities.
Well said.@@rjkeenan8955
It is precisely because of the physical characteristics of this area that it can be blocked with relatively small, lightly armed forces.
@@times4937 If Russia decides to connect Kaliningrad with Belarus, the best route to attack is through Lithuania, not the Suwałki corridor. If war broke out, Russia would first occupy Vilnius and then move further west along the A16 road.
What makes you say this ..interesting?..you out of the military experts ..not one has come to this conclusion
And seriously, how would they hold the gap surrounded on each side by NATO forces?
It's called an encirlment germany successfully did it at the start of ww2 despite being surrounded on both sides. It would work because with the baltic cut off they could easily expand the corridor north into the less defended and weak baltic nations cut off from western support whilst holding defensive position in the polish direction
@@baileygregory9192 But the Baltic States are better equipped than Ukraine is...
@@michaelagee848 how are they? What equipment do they have better they have a small army and smaller defence spending?
@@michaelagee848 the baltic states are so small the Russian military combined has almost as much men as the entire baltic states and they would be out numbered several times over
@@baileygregory9192 Since joining NATO, they, along with Poland have been the only continental armies to spend more than the required 2% of GDP on their military. Combined, they have roughly 150,000 active/reserve enlisted personnel with another 2.7 million of service age. Lithuania is now actively conscripting new recruits and their hardware has been updated for high mobility combat. M104 Howitzers, new JLTV (new Humvee), Stingers/Javelins etc.
Given Air superiority, the gap is a cooking ground or meat grinder. A couple of well placed projectiles will stop any force dead on their tracks.
A good commander will take every opportunity to train those under his command. In this case, he took a simp!e troop movement and gave his mechanics and repair units an opportunity to train in a field environment.
Now with finland in nato, the baltics can't actually be cut off from nato
Poland and Lithuania would hold thier own. Russia wouldn't be able to take Suwalki gap if they tried
C'mon, Russia and Belarus would never attack. Ukraine showing how hopeless they are, imagine tackling NATO? I don't think so...
It was an issue before Putin invaded Ukraine.
With Finland and eventually Sweden NATO members, strengthening NATO defence of Baltic States, Baltic States will not be a weak spot Kremlin can use against NATO. Of course that requires these exercises and more, but Baltic States are far more secure than they were.
Leave it to Russia to continually make a fool of himself 😂
And exactly with what strong army would Belarus and Russia manage to take control over the Suwalki gap while at the same time attacking all three Baltics and dealing with Finland?
I mean come on, you can take that gap and still not pose a threat in a real war with NATO. There is no way they can hold it for a considerable amount of time before Poland or the Nordic countries are already there to dislodge them and help out the Baltics. And let's not forget that the whole Baltic sea is a NATO lake now.
Kaliningrad would fall before that gap would be fortified enough to pose a real hinderance.
Moscow would fall before Russia could take it in the first place. The discussion over the gap is meaningless.
@@Blodhelm Well, unless thay'll tighten the noose around neck, and put veils over society eyes. Then real 💩could happen.
They can still drop troops and equipment by air or sea although risky.
I'm not a big fan of militaries, but when it's democratic countries' militaries working together, it's usually a last resort.
Comment section is full of Military experts.
It really depends on speed, I feel like keeping a sizeable force, elite force and keep them battle ready is vital. Retaking is a terrible idea, even with air superiority! Way too many lives would be wasted.
The best defense is an offense. If Russia were to close the gap then it's time NATO widens the gap by taking over Kalinigrad.
😂
Russia would use tactical nukes to defend Kaliningrad then the world has bigger problems
Do you realize that there are nuclear warheads in Kaliningrad
I think the best solution is peace with Russia
And installing NATO regime in Belarus
And removing Moscow from the planet.
Russia tries to cloae the suvalki gap, they lose Kaliningrad. That exclave is much more exposed to isolation risk than the Baltics.
Cremlin doesnt give a 💩 what happens there, as long as they can shoot rockets and deploy troops in area. If they'll loose whole area it's shame from strategic perspective, for cremlin it is a pile of dust and cannon fodder as any. RU daydreaming to rub it's tiny little pps with germans. That makes them hard i supose.
With Finland and Sweden in NATO this danger has become much less of an issue as the baltic has become a NATO-lake for all intents and purposes.
What will Russia use to hold off NATO forces in that gap? The immortal army of Anubis?
Fiction is pretty much all the Russians have these days, and apparently throughout the Cold War.
Conscripts from the poor far Eastern parts of ruzzia. Not that they need to be poor. Its just Moscow stealing all their money
Don't give your enemies problems. Problems have solutions. Give your enemies dilemmas. Dilemmas have multiple solutions. None of them good. Force your enemy to choose.
this may be a vulnerable spot, but in my mind that woud equally be the case for russia, if not more. whatever russian force woud create and move into such breach woud be exposed, with nato troops on two sides.
With the sea on another side and air power striking from above. If Russia thought they could get away with it at any time, they would have tried something already.
open topped vehicles vs cluster munitions - genius
Stop this... Russia can barrely cut a potatoe right now
Every time Russia loses they try to come back and lose bigger. It's as if they are trying to say that last loss was miniscule.
Impossible for this to happen. Russia is already depleted in troops in armor nato jets mostly USA 🇺🇸 and cruise missiles would pick off Russian targets DW news 😂is reaching on this
But nato is still afraid of Russia that it needs 30 countries. A war between nato and Russia will be nuclear, no way about it. It won’t be conventional
Been to krakow went from london last month. Poland looks amazing very vibrant and looks very robust
for goodness sake, you just plough through Kalinigrad, its not like it's well-defended
As long as russia knows every inch of NATO will be defended, and it's an all or nothing situation.
I don't think they would attack can they take the gap most likely could they keep it I find it doubtful.
I would be very open about kalinigrad being taken as a response. (And not giving it back)
And that's where German public opinion comes, giving Russia reasons to believe it won't, and German establishment colliding with Russia.
How your famous counteroffensive going, general?
If you think the usa will die for any members of their nato puppet club your deluded and will realise that someday.
@@delta_glider4362 The one that already brake the first line of defense? A lot better than Russia's Great Winter Offensive which they had to declare otherwise no one would even NOTICE it happened and failed
How about just making peace.
You don't negotiate with terrorists.
tell that to russians...
How about not starting war.
How about the Russians leaving Ukraine
@@gausts So when are you going to the front to kill Russians then? Or are you just another western coward calling for others to go fight for your feelings/beliefs?
I think this video misses the point of the Suwalki Gap. The Suwalki Gap is not an area to be defended. It is an opportunity to invade and conquer Kaliningrad the instant any threat is detected from Russia and Belarus. Poland and Lithuania could overrun Kaliningrad in a few days.
They can't close the "gap" because if they close it the whole Kaliningrad becomes a free for all
Pretty sure the Russian ships sink and Kaliningrad gets taken from Russia in a couple of hours, whether through ground forces or just obliterated from the sky.
Hopefully all this extreme nevousness Will be over when Russia Is defeated . GOD bless Europe AND Baltic Countries AND Ukraine in these hard hard times .
Russia aren't going to be defeated.
Why isn't Nato building dug in fortifications like the Russians are doing? instead of driving around out in the open near the Russian border so they get knocked out by drones while they are broken down on the road?
Cause we won’t/don’t need them. 🤣
Any force would be in Kaliningrad like a sitting duck. Surrounded from all sides. NATO in the Baltic Sea. NATO north and south. The Suwalki gap is like a vice!
Russia needs weapon from 3rd world North Korea against poor Ukraine .
What is Russia going to do against the Nato air force and navy ? One drone attack on Nato soil and the gloves come off .
Why can’t the US/Nato leave Russia alone ???
These exercises should be at least 4 times per year. At least.
40 Countries nervous about 1 country they claim is weak but they are having sleepless nights.
Not really sleepless, more like dreaming. Dreaming of a threat that we grew up thinking was real, only to wake up and see the wet kazoo that is the Russian military losing to Ukraine and constantly bitching about how they're fighting all of NATO because NATO gave Ukraine a few hand-me-downs. We spent 50 years making weapons to annihilated the Soviet Union, turns out you were never a real contender. It's depressing for us too, comrade. Guess we'll have to focus on China, since they're your daddy now.
True😂😂
Russia attacking nato countrys would be bad for st petersburg. Its in natos reach from many countys
All of Russia is in our reach and we have stealth aircraft. Russian can't even stop Ukrainian garage drones.
@@Blodhelm >we have stealth aircraft.
Like one that was downed by ancient Serbs AA? And I remember all hype on mighty NATO' spring counteroffence. Filed miserably I heard?
Btw how Article 5 have worked for these dead Polacs and Romanians so far? Any news? Any moment now I guess 😂
@@Blodhelmthe usa couldn't even defend against a huge balloon not too long ago for several days. They couldn't defend the pentagon or new york from huge planes. No country can defend 100% against drones.
I ask this question a lot these days in regards to news bits like this.
With what?
This convoy looked more like a side trip, a land party. So after breakfast they get into their vehicules, cross the border to Lithuania visiting german friends.
Not really a challenging excercise.
Get up in the morning at 3am, bring up the gear and establish a given line of defense is something different.
And Breedlove as american was very polite
Just looking at them I wouldn't give them much of a chance if the Russians attacked. They're not Ukrainians
The fear mongering and Russophobia is sickening.
Agree on the fear part, there is no need to fear, but Russophopia is just Russoreaslism.
NATO archille's heel is Ukraine actually. The amount of resources we sent there are staggering, to the point of almost disarming NATO.
Sure "we" did, comrade. You really have no idea how little the war has cost us. This whole conflict isn't a tenth of what we in the US spend on our military A YEAR, in peacetime. Russia never stood a chance, that's why Putin does nothing when we skip over his "red lines," because he can't and he knows he can't.
Not even close. It's mostly old stockpile
@@jooseppib1082 That you don't have now. And don't start regular BS about how resources costs nothing. To replace it needed tons of money and time.
@@delta_glider4362 and who else is going through their old stockpiles of equipment at the moment?
However, I do know that NATO and its allies can replenish much more quickly than Russia can.
@@jooseppib1082 whose stockpile? U don't even know how close that is even if it's breathing right on your face. Lmao
😂😂🤣
I won hundred percent totally agree with more training on the walkie gap and we need first strike training to be done
It's not a gap, it's a huge swath of fields like the entire surrounding countryside. I have been there. There is no particular geographic weakness. It just looks that way on political maps.
A new training opportunity against a simulated enemy. A real money maker for NATO.
Not like our troops have an actual Russian threat to practice against, or for reals.
Warmongering, saberatling etc! 😢😢😢
Who invaded Ukraine? Does someone need to draw a picture for you?
@@boink800 no, I just want to know, who actually invaded Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Vietnam etc? 😨😨😨
@@charliemike1036 Who invaded East Berlin, Hungary, the CSSR, Poland, Afghanistan and then Georgia and Chetneya?
@bonk 800 and Czechslovkia and Moldova 🇲🇩, too ruSSia invaded them and their pop up country of Transinistra 🙄.
What a waste of ten minutes. Russia can't do anything to the Baltics without triggering an immediate NATO response, so there is no point worrying about the geography.
That British major was thinking he was a part of a fancy dress competition
Nato is just southing behind like a hungry dog 🐕 but they will never dreamed of attacking russia that's the reality😅😅
You definitely meant to say something. Although we might never know what.
Or the other way around . Like it has been for the last 70 years .
Name a NATO country Russia ever attack? Russia can't even take a poor country without a air force and Navy thats right right next door after 19 months .
China is focussing on devolvement and united States is using europe for their proxy war😅😅
The proxy war alt-right conspiracy theory 😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@boink800 so blowing up northstream was to help europe i guess? i love paying more for my electricity. Glad we have USA as our friend and ally. /s
@@FasTFinGaZsTiZZa Please tell me more botski conspiracy theories -- they are so funny, Ivan.
Next time try shooting rockets in them while they're fixing these tanks lol. Broke down before reaching the imaginary front line on a perfectly smooth paved road?!
This is a perfect example of a general saying sensible things, and journalists not really understanding what he meant to say. The general even specifically said, that most excercises test the logistics and if they can pull it off. The journalist says, the UK officer said that he found the (logistical) excercise of repairing his vehicle useful. I don't deny that, but that was not what the general meant with excercising to breaking point. What should have happened is that the British convoy would have endured attack after attack by land and air forces and then see how many vehicles would have made it to Latvia.
In reality, the convoy wouldn't be the only effort. And just like Russian S-300 and S-400 systems would keep NATO aircraft away for a few hours before getting destroyed by SEAD, NATO SAM systems in Poland and Lithuania would keep the Russian aircraft in Königsberg unable to even take off, and both Swedish, and NATO submarines would lay ready to sink any Russian warship that dares to venture out of port...
@@SonsOfLorgar That may all be feasible, I don't know. Nobody knows, until you practice it to breaking point. That is what the general meant.
The only reason why Russia would undertake such an adventure would be a NATO threat to Kaliningrad which is much an aspiration among some NATO countries. Besides, with the nukes in Kaliningrad Russia would have much better options. The West continues to stoke tensions and aggression when such symptoms do not exist. NATO obviously is an pact for aggression around the world to continue their colonialism over the developing world.
Wow, comrade, you almost nailed it. Except for the part where you f*cknuts have been losing a war of unprovoked aggression for more than a year, the west doesn't want your sh*thole of a country, your nukes don't work and just having them in a place doesn't prevent people from waltzing in and taking it anyway and Russia has no options besides continuing to fight and lose or running away again. You started this war, now you have to live with it.