Most are unaware of the Lithuanian blockade preventing the flow of goods into Kaliningrad. Fewer still understand the significance of this strategic area, a small plot of land that may very well touch off a world war between Russia and her allies and NATO.
What is the key to understanding the gravity of the Lithuanian blockade and Kaliningrad’s strategic importance to Russia?
Kaliningrad is the headquarters of Russia’s Baltic Sea Fleet.
Basically, it is a 160-square mile plot of land called an oblast by Russia, a word that translates roughly into “province.” It sits between Lithuania and Poland. It is accessible by land via an avenue known as the Suwalki Gap, a narrow corridor extending about 50 miles from the Russian forces stationed in the nation of Belarus and the Russian territory of Kaliningrad, which is situated on the Baltic Sea coast.
On June 18, 2022, Lithuania halted all rail movements of goods along the Suwalki Gap and into Kaliningrad and further imposed EU “sanctions” on materials permitted to enter the Russian province.
The Russians are not completely isolated in this matter. The president of Belorussia, Alexander Lukashenko, said this to the press at RIA Novosti:
“We are very concerned by the situation and the policy being pursued by our neighbors. You know, in general terms: this is the leadership of Poland and the leadership of Lithuania…with Lithuania…there is a growing flow of information about their plan to suspend transit from Russia through Belarus to Kaliningrad, to isolate Kaliningrad. Well, listen, that’s akin to a declaration of war! That sort of thing is unacceptable in the current conditions.”
Lukashenko met with Vladimir Putin on June 24 to talk about the current situation. Putin assured the Belorussian president that Russia would send its ally weapons to help counter what both leaders see as an encroachment by NATO and an attempt to completely cut off Kaliningrad.
The bottom line? Putin told Lukashenko that Russia would provide Belorussia with Iskander missiles and nuclear warheads for them.
The potential line in the sand? The blockade also cuts off the oil pipeline running from Russia to Kaliningrad.
The ban is not just by rail but also restricts trucks and aircraft from entering the Russian province.
As Lithuania is a member of NATO, any aggression against it by Russia would violate Article 5 of the NATO treaty and put all of NATO into immediate conflict with Russia. It is simple to see from all of this how large a “powder-keg” this is, and it wouldn’t take much to set it off. Now let’s examine more of the strategic considerations here.
Not only is Kaliningrad the only ice-free Baltic Sea port and home to the Russian Baltic Sea Fleet, but there is a tremendous troop presence there, along with missiles and other equipment. The province holds Iskander missiles, and recently the Russians have moved nuclear warheads to the missile bases that can be fitted to them.
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Zero Hedge is saying NATO has blinked...
EU Walks Back Hard Line On Kaliningrad Standoff As Russia Places New Missiles On Baltic Coast
Wow! This whole episode hasn't gone the way our "Great Reset" crowd planned. In fact, to date it acting more like a boomerang.
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