NATO’s Eastern Flank Prepares for Possible War with Russia: Details

NATO’s eastern flank countries are strengthening their defenses and preparing for a possible military conflict with Russia. According to journalists, Finland, Poland, and the Baltic states are counting primarily on their own forces in the first days of a potential war.

This is reported by Politico .

Journalists from the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network visited three areas of NATO’s eastern border—Finland’s border with Russia, Poland’s border with the Kaliningrad Oblast and Belarus, and the Suwalki Corridor area in Lithuania—to assess the countries’ preparedness for a possible Russian attack.

The article notes that the countries of the eastern flank are expanding their armies, building defensive fortifications and preparing for a scenario in which the first days of the war will have to contain the offensive with their own forces. At the same time, the journalists note that uncertainty about the future role of the United States in NATO has increased after statements by US President Donald Trump about the need to review American commitments to the allies.

According to Politico, satellite images show a buildup of Russian military presence near the border with Finland and other European Union countries. The head of Sweden’s military intelligence called it preparation for a possible confrontation with NATO.

The commander of the North Karelia border district, Colonel Matti Pitkäniitti, emphasized: “Russia is a superpower, and we are a small country. You have to be careful when you sleep next to a bear.”

Jukka Kopra, the chairman of Finland’s parliamentary defense committee, said the country does not expect to immediately invoke Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. “We are happy to be in the alliance, but we still understand that we will strike first on our own before Article 5 of NATO is activated,” he said.

The material also notes that Poland is implementing the Eastern Shield project, which involves creating a system of defensive structures along the border with Belarus and the Kaliningrad region. It includes anti-tank ditches, concrete barriers, bunkers, minefields, drones and surveillance systems. According to the Polish Ministry of Defense, the cost of the project is estimated at approximately 10 billion euros.

At the same time, journalists note that some sections of the “Eastern Shield” remain unfinished, and some of the planned defensive elements have not yet been installed.

The Baltic states are also building a Baltic Defense Line, which includes anti-tank ditches, bunkers, defensive obstacles, and minefields. Former U.S. Army Europe commander Ben Hodges suggested that in a worst-case scenario, the Baltic states could need up to 2 weeks to hold their defenses without reinforcements from more distant allies.

At the same time, German and Lithuanian officials believe that a large-scale Russian attack will be preceded by significant military preparations that will allow NATO to transfer additional forces to the eastern flank in advance.

Recall that Finnish President Alexander Stubb signed amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act that allow the import and transit of nuclear weapons through the country’s territory. The law will come into force on July 1 and repeals the current ban on such operations.

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