A major naval exercise by NATO and partners involving some 30 ships and more than 3,000 Western troops will take place in the Baltic Sea, practicing for the first time how to respond to a possible Russian attack.
This was stated by the head of the German Navy, Jan Christian Kaack. “We are sending a clear signal to Russia to be vigilant: not on our watch,” he said. “Credible deterrence must include the ability to attack.”
It is noted that the two-week North Coast exercise, which will begin on September 9, will involve troops from all NATO countries located on the Baltic Sea, as well as from Sweden, which will soon become its member, and from non-Baltic allies - the USA, Canada, the Netherlands , Belgium and France. They will practice landing operations and strikes from sea to land.
In addition, another area of the exercise will be to ensure the security of sea routes through the Baltic Sea in the event of blocking of the Suwalki corridor.
“Finland and the Baltic countries are almost 100% dependent on sea supply routes through the Baltic Sea. If the Suwalki corridor is closed - and this can be easily done, since there are only two roads and one railway line - then we will only have sea routes, and that is where we will then have to fight our way,” Kaak said.
Suwalki Corridor - what you need to know
The Suwalki corridor connects the territory of the Baltic countries with Poland and the rest of NATO countries, and also separates the territory of the Russian Kaliningrad region and Belarus.
With a width of only about 100 km, the Suwalki corridor can easily be cut by counter attacks from advancing troops from Kaliningrad and Belarus. In this case, the Baltic countries are completely deprived of land communications with Poland and NATO countries in general, finding themselves completely surrounded by numerically superior troops of Russia and Belarus.
Earlier, in connection with the arrival of the “Wagnerites” in Belarus, a possible attempt to cut the Suwalki corridor was announced.
Security in the Baltic Sea
Earlier, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky stated that Ukraine is working on an international strategy to ensure security in the Black and Azov Seas. At the same time, he noted that Ukraine’s task is to create an alliance with NATO countries for common protection from Russian aggression not only of the Black Sea and Azov coasts, but also of the Baltic space.
