Britain’s *The Telegraph* reports that the Via Baltica motorway, running through Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, could serve as NATO’s sole land corridor to block a Russian invasion, according to a Wednesday article.
Britain’s Take on the Corridor
*The Telegraph* wrote that if Russia were to invade, the Via Baltica route—partly through Poland—would be the only land corridor for NATO reinforcements, potentially preventing a catastrophe.
Strategic Threats Along the Suwalski Gap
The article explains that should Putin’s tanks cross into Lithuania, they would likely enter an approximately 80‑kilometre stretch of Polish‑Lithuanian territory separating Belarus from Kaliningrad. Capturing the Suwalski Panhandle could sever NATO’s land link to three Baltic allies, an Achilles‑heel for the Alliance.
Defensive Preparations in Poland and the Baltics
The Telegraph notes extensive efforts to deter Russian aggression before it begins. Poland and the Baltic states are constructing physical fortifications—anti‑tank ditches and “dragon teeth”—and have withdrawn from the Ottawa Treaty to allow placing minefields on their most vulnerable borders.
Via Baltica as a Symbol of Freedom
Mention is made of Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda calling the highway a “symbol of freedom, prosperity and security.” He asserts that in a crisis the road would enable rapid troop movement, deterring further Russian advancement.
Recent Completion and Strategic Value
The Lithuanian section of Via Baltica opened in late October. The highway—an expressway in Poland and a motorway in Lithuania—connects Warsaw, Kaunas and Vilnius, then extends north to Finland, and runs through the Suwalski Gap, making it critical for both civilian and military traffic.
