Opinion: main goal of NATO now is to block Kaliningrad Region

NATO never does anything for nothing, it always acts purposefully – as stated by Aleksei Avdonin, an expert at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies, in his talk with the ONT TV channel

Photo: ONT video screenshot

Mr. Avdonin noted, “Based on NATO plans approved back in 2015, a programme of investments in the creation of not only transport and logistics infrastructure, but also military infrastructure – which covers warehouses, access and unloading stations, as well as airfields – has begun. It should be understood that, according to their plans, this infrastructure should have been created by 2022. NATO never does anything for nothing. It does not invest money in infrastructure because of some kind of vague vision. It acts purposefully and with specific tasks. The main goal of NATO [on the Russian border] now is to make an attempt to block the Kaliningrad Region. You can already see how now, after Sweden joined NATO, statements are openly made that they would take Kaliningrad.”

The expert stressed that the large-scale exercises kicked off in February 2024 on the border of Russia and Belarus are aimed at fighting these states, “It was initially said that about 40 thousand military personnel would participate in these drills, but 90,000 are already involved. At the same time, the main task trained at the exercises is not just the manoeuvres near our borders: it is the practicing of the issues related to the deployment of a huge amount of force and means from the port infrastructure – American and British troops – to the border of Russia and Belarus. This indicates that preparations are underway for an offensive operation.”