Are The Baltic States Defensible? (From RealClearDefense)

NATO is committed to defending the Baltic States, but it remains unclear what such a defense would actually look like, nor how effective it would be against a Russian attack. The geography of Europe makes the defense of the Baltics more complicated than any promise to defend them may convey. Firstly, all Baltic countries are bordered by Russia—Estonia and Latvia by Russia proper and Lithuania by Kaliningrad. Secondly, the Baltics are relatively isolated from formal NATO allies. In short, whether the Russians go further into Ukraine or not, the exposed geostrategic position of the Baltics makes them obvious targets in the future. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are vulnerable in a way Poland, located on the front line with Russia and Belarus and in close proximity to other NATO countries, will never be. I have written more on this subject here.