Why US wants to capture Kaliningrad in Russia? The reason is…, Moscow says ‘Third World War…'
It has a short, western coastline on the Baltic Sea.
By Tahir Qureshi Edited by Tahir Qureshi
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New Delhi: Russia's Kaliningrad region has been in the news all over the world for the past few days. The reason for this is the statement of the US General regarding this region and Russia's sharp response to it. Russia has said that if the US or NATO forces attack the Kaliningrad region, it could lead to the start of the Third World War. Russia said that it will protect the Kaliningrad region at any cost.
What made Russia so angry?
This dispute started with a programme in Germany. The US Army and NATO allies have started the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line in Wiesbaden, Germany. US Army Europe and Africa Commander General Christopher Donahue says that the goal of this initiative is to counter Russia. Christopher has also talked about attacking Kaliningrad in Russia. Donahue said that NATO forces can capture Kaliningrad in Russia. Russia is furious over this.
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What is Moscow's response?
The Kremlin has reacted sharply to these threats from the West and the USA. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the Russian Parliamentary Committee on International Affairs, said that an attack on the Kaliningrad region would mean an attack on Russia. All appropriate countermeasures will be taken for this. Nuclear options are also present in this. Accusing the American general of planning to unleash the Third World War, he said that there will be no winner in this global deadlock.
Why is Kaliningrad so important for Russia?
The Kaliningrad region is very important for Russia. Russia controls Kaliningrad, located between Poland and Lithuania. However, it is cut off from the mainland of Russia. NATO and the West feel that Putin can use this region to attack Europe. Using this strategic exclave, the Russians can also capture the Suwalki Gap. This inaccessible land strip, about 60 miles wide, connects the rest of the NATO countries to the Baltic countries.
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What is the strategic importance of Kaliningrad?
The Russian exclave Kaliningrad Oblast, hundreds of kilometers from Russia, is a tiny landmass of 15,100 square kilometers located between Poland and Lithuania. The German city of Königsberg and its surrounding area was ceded to the Soviet Union immediately after World War II. It was renamed Kaliningrad in 1946.
It has a short, western coastline on the Baltic Sea. Despite being small, it is of utmost strategic importance to Russia. This gives Russia another route of direct access to the Baltic Sea. The headquarters and main base of Russia's Baltic Sea Fleet is in Kaliningrad Oblast. Kaliningrad is one of the most militarized parts of Europe. As such, this region is of great importance to Russia in military terms.
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