Russia threatens nuclear armament on its western flank.
(Photo: IMAGO/SNA)
Dusseldorf In the Kaliningrad exclave on the Baltic Sea, the Russian army has simulated attacks with the nuclear-capable Iskander-M missile system. About 100 soldiers moved out with 20 vehicles, according to the Russian military. Then individual or mass launches were simulated to hit enemy missile systems, airfields, bunkers or troops.
Iskander-M can fire cruise missiles or rockets up to 500 kilometers. From Kaliningrad, Warsaw, Berlin and other capitals are within easy reach.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has indicated several times since the start of the attack on Ukraine that he would consider using tactical nuclear weapons. He put his nuclear forces on high alert in February. Putin has threatened “quick retaliation” if NATO intervenes in the Ukraine conflict.
Western observers assume that Russian state television is currently trying to prepare the public for the use of nuclear weapons. Russian journalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov warned on Tuesday: “For two weeks we have been hearing on our TV screens that the nuclear silos should be opened.”
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The approaching accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO prompted the Kremlin several times to threaten Kaliningrad with a nuclear build-up. According to a newspaper report, Finland intends to apply to join the transatlantic defense alliance as early as May 12.
There is also a majority in the Swedish parliament for such a step. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has already declared in advance that an application for membership by both countries would be examined quickly and with a positive outcome.
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The accession of the two states to the alliance would be of great strategic importance. Russia has therefore already announced “serious consequences” for the case. Then Russian forces would be strengthened on land, sea and air and nuclear weapons might be stationed in the region – although there are indications that Russia has already brought such weapons to the Kaliningrad exclave.
The government in Moscow is well aware that the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO would significantly shift the strategic situation in the Baltic Sea region.
In February, the Russian President put his nuclear forces on high alert.
(Photo: IMAGO/SNA)
Above all, the Baltic states, which are considered to be NATO’s weak points, would be strengthened. At a recent press conference with his German colleague Annalena Baerbock, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis pointed out the importance of the accession of the two countries bordering the Baltic Sea.
With Sweden and Finland as NATO states, the inland sea could be secured far better, he said, referring to sea trade routes that are particularly important for the Baltic States. The Baltic Sea is the most important route for the supply of liquid gas, for example. This is becoming more and more important as the Balts also want to become independent of Russian energy sources as quickly as possible.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are geographically in a sensitive position. As the southernmost of the Baltic republics, Lithuania borders on the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. This is also where the so-called Suwalki gap is located, which is considered to be NATO’s Achilles’ heel. Lithuania and thus the entire Baltic region are only connected to the NATO state of Poland by a corridor 65 kilometers wide. To the west is Kaliningrad, to the east is the Russian ally Belarus.
Finland, on the other hand, has a border with Russia that is around 1,300 kilometers long and, as a NATO member, would massively change the balance of power in the region. The Kola Peninsula is of strategic importance for Russia for national security, the Russian Northern Fleet is also stationed here – and Saint Petersburg is only around 170 kilometers from the Finnish border.
More: NATO accession: For Sweden and Finland things could happen very quickly now