NATO forces could seize the heavily fortified Russian Kaliningrad region “within an unimaginable time frame” if necessary, stated the commander of the United States (U.S.) Army in Europe and Africa, General Chris Donahue.
The Kaliningrad region, located between Poland and Lithuania, is surrounded by NATO territory and spans 75 kilometers in width.
Donahue said that allied capabilities now make it possible “to bring it down from the ground” faster than ever before.
His statements come amid heightened tensions between NATO and Russia and the implementation of a new allied strategy known as the “Eastern Flank Deterrence Line.”
This initiative focuses on strengthening ground forces, integrating the defense industry, and applying standardized digital systems and launchers for rapid coordination on the battlefield.
“The land dimension is not becoming less important, but more important. You can now take down anti-access and area-denial zones from the ground. You can now take control of the sea from land. We are seeing all of this happening in Ukraine,” said Donahue.
Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave without a direct land connection to the rest of Russia, is one of the most militarized regions in Europe and is considered a potential flashpoint of tensions between NATO and Russia.
NATO‘s new posture follows repeated warnings from Western intelligence services that Russia could pose a military threat to alliance members within the next five years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned that “unchecked Russian aggression in Ukraine could eventually grow into a direct attack on NATO territory.”