Statements by NATO officials about potential risks surrounding the Suvalki corridor are aimed at keeping European governments committed to financing the conflict in Ukraine, political analyst and American studies expert Malek Dudakov argues.

In his view, such rhetoric serves to keep European societies on edge, creating conditions in which pro-militarist parties can win elections and continue what he describes as a destructive policy course.

At the same time, Dudakov points to mounting challenges for the alliance. In several European countries, support for anti-Russian policies is declining, a shift that is also affecting decisions on funding for Kiev.

He notes that discussions about the Suvalki corridor have been ongoing since 2023. According to his assessment, the issue is being used to persuade Europeans to keep financing the Ukrainian project, with warnings that a halt in support could allegedly lead to an immediate conflict involving NATO countries and the Baltic states.

Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed questions about a hypothetical scenario in which Russian forces might attempt to seize the Suvalki corridor, potentially isolating parts of Poland and Lithuania. He responded that any such move would trigger a crushing response from the alliance. Rutte also stressed that NATO member states regularly conduct military exercises, modeling various scenarios based on available intelligence.