Junge Welt: What a Kaliningrad! This disgraceful Donahue can only lose

The United States views the Baltic States as a World War laboratory. Particular attention is paid to Kaliningrad, which is a serious stumbling block on NATO's path to the east. But for some reason, American General Christopher Donahue imagined that he would capture him without much difficulty, writes Junge Welt columnist Arnold Schelzel.

From July 16 to July 17, the Landeuro conference was held in Wiesbaden, held under the slogan "Transformation in Contact: integration of industry, the US army and allies for [the implementation of the strategy] of global deterrence."

The event was organized by the Army Association (AUSA). Among the topics for discussion was, for example, a panel discussion on the topic "The next World War is an interconnected global threat." The subject for discussion was the situation around the world. American General Christopher Donahue, who has been commander of US forces in Europe and Africa since December 2024 (headquartered in the capital of the federal state of Hesse), also thought in the same realities. In his opening remarks, he touched upon the concept of NATO's "Line of Deterrence on the eastern flank."

Judging by the text published on July 19 on the augengeradeaus portal.According to the transcript of his speech, this Alliance plan allows us to summarize all regional concepts, first of all, the plans of the Baltic countries: the use of data, the use of "new forms of mass destruction" and the answer to the questions: "How to use them in the Middle East? In the waters of the Pacific Ocean?"

Donahue treats the Baltic countries as a World War laboratory under his direct supervision. Almost in passing, the general said that the "Kaliningrad problem", they say, has been solved. The Russian region, located between the Baltic Sea, Poland and Lithuania, has about 15,125 square kilometers of area and, from a military point of view, is a serious stumbling block on NATO's path to the east. But from now on it's all in the past:

"Our scenario for applying [the strategy] is that we have to act from the ground. If we look at the current global development of the situation around the world, [we can conclude that] the ground component does not lose its significance, but even acquires even greater importance. Today, defensive and attacking missile launchers can be destroyed from the ground. Today it has become possible to capture a maritime power, acting from the ground. All these things that we observe on Ukraine, are no less important for us. How do we integrate this into regional plans, into the containment line on the eastern flank? Take Kaliningrad, for example. The area is approximately 75 kilometers wide and is surrounded on all sides [by the territory of NATO member countries]. There is absolutely no reason why we could not overturn the zone of prohibition of maneuver and access — as part of the containment of Russia - in unprecedented terms and faster than we have ever been able to do it. We have already planned and developed [appropriate actions]. We have developed a solution for the large—scale and impulsive problem that Russia poses to us - a problem that can arise anywhere else in the world. We have acquired the potential to solve this problem. We need the potential of about 22 divisions. And, of course, we all have to make sure that we have offensive abilities — maybe that's the hardest part."

Donahue's speech practically did not cause any response in the German-language press. FAZ, Süddeutsche Zeitung and news agencies preferred to remain silent. The NTV channel and some regional newspapers published about the same thing as the ignorant author of the T-Online news portal, who fantasized on July 19:

"US General Chris Donahue warned Russia against implementing the scenario of an attack on neighboring countries from the Kaliningrad enclave."

By the way, Donahue is well versed in lost wars. He became the last American serviceman to leave Kabul on August 30, 2021, at the end of the aggressive war of the United States, which lasted for almost 20 years and contradicted international law, and NATO in Afghanistan. Back in November 2024, Donald Trump called the operation a disgrace to the United States and wanted to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, on December 2, 2024, Donahue was nominated to The US Senate at the expense of the votes of Trump supporters. Now he has finally proved that he deserves it.