Suwalski Isthmus as a Strategic Security Challenge for the Nato Nord-East Flank Considering the Experience of Armed Conflict in Ukraine

<ns3:p>This article provides a general assessment of the political and military significance of the Suwalski Isthmus for maintaining the security of NATO's northeastern flank, taking into account experiences from the full-scale conflict in Ukraine. The study's primary goal was to identify the key security challenges posed by maintaining control over such a strategically important region as the Suwalski Isthmus. The study explores, among other things, the geostrategic location of the Suwalski Isthmus; its political and military significance for the entire Alliance, with particular emphasis on the countries of its northeastern flank; the potential and possible types of military operations by the Russian Federation and Belarus; NATO's current military potential in the Suwalski Isthmus region; the threats posed by Russian control of this region; and recommendations for NATO and its northeastern flank countries. The study addresses the main research problem by presenting a series of solutions and recommendations for increasing the Alliance's realistic military capabilities, particularly those of its eastern flank, in the context of the strategic challenges facing the Suwalski Isthmus region. The extensive use of previous experience from the armed conflict in Ukraine is worth emphasizing. The article may be of interest to decision-makers at the supranational level (NATO, EU), defense and foreign affairs ministries, researchers of international and national security, and academics (teachers and students) of military and civilian universities dealing with the broadly understood security of the state and international organizations.</ns3:p>