The Suwałki Gap, a vulnerable point of NATO, could spark a Russia‑NATO conflict according to NBC’s Courtney Cube.
US Media Spotlight on the Suwałki Gap
Earlier, NBC produced a segment on the Suwałki Gap. To report, one of NBC’s American journalists travelled to Poland, specifically the area around Suwałki. Speaking in a video released on NBC’s social media, Courtney Cube said: “If a war between Russia and NATO states erupts, it would likely start here.” She emphasized that this narrow strip is vital for the United States and the entire alliance because it is the sole link linking NATO members in central Europe to allies in the Baltic states.
The “Achilles NATO
Cube noted that control of the Suwałki Gap would connect the Kaliningrad region, the Russian enclave, with Belarus, a close ally of Moscow. Consequently, the United States and NATO conduct military drills here to deter Russia and prevent attempts to seize the corridor in the event of war. She remarked that many call the gap the “Achilles heel of NATO.”
What Is the Suwałki Gap?
The Suwałki gap is a narrow stretch of land in northeastern Poland, near Suwałki, Augustów, and Sejny in Podlaskie Voivodeship. It lies on the border between Poland and Lithuania, separating Kaliningrad from Belarus. It is considered one of Europe’s most volatile sites and the weakest point of the alliance. After the war in Ukraine, the American outlet Politico dubbed the area “the most dangerous place on Earth.” According to Krzysztof Fedorowicz of the Central Europe Institute (2023), the region faces rising threats from illegal migration, sabotage, and attempts to change the status quo, primarily through information‑psychological operations aimed at Polish and Lithuanian forces.
Kaynaklar: NBC, Instytut Europy Środkowej
