On September 15, 2025, I posted an article titled “The Suwalki Gap: The Most Important Strip of Land You’ve Probably Never Heard Of.” In it, I pointed out the strategic importance of a small swath of land that forms the border between NATO members Lithuania and Poland, and also separates Russia’s Kaliningrad territory from its staunch ally, Belarus.

That small piece of land is the home of the bulk of Russia’s Baltic Fleet — a year-round ice-free haven for its naval vessels, submarines and landing craft. But at present, its only open supply route from the Russian mainland is by sea; passage through the Suwalki Gap would provide an enormous time- and money-saving land access.

In that September post I wrote that “I believe Suwalki is a name that will become much more familiar in the not-too-distant future.” And it didn’t take long for that prediction to be validated.

It has now been announced that Lithuania has invited Poland to join with it in establishing a military training ground spanning both of their countries in the Suwalki Corridor. Lithuania already has such a training ground under construction near its borders with Poland and Belarus, and proposes to expand the facility into Polish territory, thus creating a permanent, joint military training complex. [Ukraine News, January 28, 2026.]

According to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, such a facility would significantly strengthen operational coordination between Lithuanian and Polish forces — and, critically, reinforce the defense of the Suwalki Corridor itself. [Id.]

Clearly, this is one more strategy in Europe’s recent ramping-up of its defenses against any future efforts by Russia to undertake aggressive action against the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, or any of the surrounding Eastern and Central European NATO allies.

The people of Europe have survived two world wars; they know too well the danger signs, and are determined not to let it happen a third time.

The rest of the world really needs to listen to their voices of experience . . . because the greatest danger in these politically volatile times is complacency.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/29/26