Regarding the outcome of the possible confrontation between Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance during World War III, whether it is the United States, Europe, or Russia, they are all trying to guess. Russia’s economic and military expenditures have been much lower than those of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. During the Soviet period, thanks to the support of soldiers from Ukraine, Belarus, and Central Asian countries, the size of the Soviet army was about five times that of the current Russian armed forces. This used to be the force that frightened Europe. So, if the current Russian army has a regular frontal conflict with NATO, what will the outcome be? After all, the current situation is different from that of the Cold War. Z2z
NATO experts believe that due to the existence of nuclear weapons, and Russia today does not possess the aggressiveness of the Red Soviet Union, the scale of the war will be controlled within a reasonable range. In a short time, Russia will no longer have enough endurance to attack the capitalist powers in Western Europe. But NATO still has its "fatal weakness", that is, the Baltic states. Russia is very likely to invade the three Baltic countries in a very short time and at a very small cost, and put tremendous pressure on Poland. By then, Russia will gain control of more than half of the Baltic Sea, thereby completely changing its strategic posture in the west. Nowadays, the scattered NATO may not be able to provide timely support. At most, it can ensure the Polish bridgehead without any ability to regain the Baltic states.
and NATO is unable to change this situation. In theory, in order to be able to stop the Russian forces in attacks on Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the EU needs to maintain a much stronger force in the Baltic Sea than it is today. However, the Baltic countries are too small and underpopulated. The size of the armed forces is so small that they are insignificant to mobilize, and they cannot deploy large numbers of foreign troops on their territory. Even more frightening is that there are huge Russian communities and Russian-speaking people living in Latvia and Estonia, which means that it will be very easy for Russian troops to enter here.
According to the estimates of NATO experts, the Western Military Region of Russia has long planned many invasion plans. With the huge military power of Russia's Western Military District, it may take only 60 hours to end the battle. The Western Military Region has 40% of Russia's total military strength, including the most elite 6th Guards Army, 20th Guards Army and Airborne troops. In order to improve offensive capabilities, Putin also newly formed the 1st Guards Tank Army. Once war begins, the 20th Guards Army can quickly invade Lithuania and Kaliningrad’s rendezvous, completely blocking NATO reinforcements. The 1st Guards Tank Army will threaten Warsaw from the east. The 6th Guards Army can easily sweep the three Baltic countries.
In order to strengthen the defense of the Baltic countries, NATO will need to deploy at least seven brigades in these countries, three of which are tank and armored brigades and four mechanized infantry brigades. But this will be accompanied by additional financial costs, and countries have been unable to reach an agreement in the quarrel over military expenditure sharing, which makes the United States very annoyed. So the conclusion is obvious. Knowing that NATO cannot be defeated in a world war, it is Russia's best choice to make NATO powerless in a local war. NATO will lose the Baltic Sea, and Poland will become the most dangerous frontline for confrontation. (Military fish)
