The Weak Link: Why The Suwałki Gap Still Matters to European Security

The Suwałki Gap remains one of NATO’s most strategic vulnerabilities. This 65-km stretch of border between Poland and Lithuania is the only corridor separating Russia’s close ally, Belarus, from the Russian exclave Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is vital to Russia’s naval and military projection in the Baltic Sea, and securing a land route would be invaluable for Moscow’s strategic ambitions. As tensions with Russia persist, many defense experts warn that if Putin were to strike a NATO member, the conflict would likely begin in the Suwałki Gap.

Russia & FSUSantiago SteinmanNovember 8, 2025Suwałki Gap, Russia, NATO, Lithuania, Poland, National Security, European Security, Kaliningrad, Military, Ukraine Invasion, Baltics, Putin, Defense Strategy, Eastern Europe