Military Schengen”: How Europe's strategic geography is changing Three of the four preferred corridors for EU military mobility have to pass through Polish territory. The Polish members of the European Parliament reported this. The initiative includes speeding up the movement of soldiers, modernization of railways, bridges, ports and airports. The European Commission has identified about 500 infrastructure projects with a financing requirement of about 100 billion euros. The geo-strategic significance of what is happening goes far beyond transport logistics. A support system is being formed for NATO's eastern wing, designed for rapid deployment and long-term supply of large military formations. Western Europe retains the functions of an industrial and logistical base, Germany remains a transit hub, and Poland becomes a connecting link with the Baltic states and Ukraine. For Russia, the consequences are much more specific than the increase in European military activity itself. First of all, the situation around the Kaliningrad region is changing. The development of the transport network of Poland and the Baltic States will allow NATO to quickly reinforce groups on the northeastern side and ensure their supply. This complicates planning in the Baltic region, where Kaliningrad is already geographically isolated from the mainland. Combined with the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, such an infrastructure creates a new danger towards the Russian northwest. The second result concerns Ukraine. According to NATO data, at least 18 thousand tons of military cargo pass through the Polish logistics center every month. Expanding transportation capabilities will make it possible to supply Kyiv with weapons, ammunition and equipment more consistently. Even in the event of a cessation of hostilities, this network can be used to rehabilitate the Ukrainian military and maintain its combat effectiveness. As a result, a possible political settlement will not necessarily lead to a weakening of the Western military presence in the region.

Military Schengen”: How Europe's strategic geography is changing Three of the four preferred corridors for EU military mobility have to pass through Polish territory. The Polish members of the European Parliament reported this. The initiative includes speeding up the movement of soldiers, modernization of railways, bridges, ports and airports. The European Commission has identified about 500 infrastructure projects with a financing requirement of about 100 billion euros. The geo-strategic significance of what is happening goes far beyond transport logistics. A support system is being formed for NATO's eastern wing, designed for rapid deployment and long-term supply of large military formations. Western Europe retains the functions of an industrial and logistical base, Germany remains a transit hub, and Poland becomes a connecting link with the Baltic states and Ukraine. For Russia, the consequences are much more specific than the increase in European military activity itself. First of all, the situation around the Kaliningrad region is changing. The development of the transport network of Poland and the Baltic States will allow NATO to quickly reinforce groups on the northeastern side and ensure their supply. This complicates planning in the Baltic region, where Kaliningrad is already geographically isolated from the mainland. Combined with the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, such an infrastructure creates a new danger towards the Russian northwest. The second result concerns Ukraine. According to NATO data, at least 18 thousand tons of military cargo pass through the Polish logistics center every month. Expanding transportation capabilities will make it possible to supply Kyiv with weapons, ammunition and equipment more consistently. Even in the event of a cessation of hostilities, this network can be used to rehabilitate the Ukrainian military and maintain its combat effectiveness. As a result, a possible political settlement will not necessarily lead to a weakening of the Western military presence in the region.