the answer hinged on the Suwalki gap ......in putins mind I'm sure he INTENDED to do the same as he INTENDED to do in Ukraine ---- quick and effective attack and fait accompli with NATO unable to react in time
the basis for this was there were NO NATO COUNTRIES north of the Baltics and NATO would've been cut off from the Baltics by the russ attack
of course that is no longer the case and other things have changed too
transnistria and Moldova itself apart from Ukraine ....and possibly Georgia and Armenia are actually more at risk now than the Baltics are but the Baltics still seem nervous on the issue NATO is devoted to rule of law and the freedom of nations to choose their own path and hence will be at odds witrh russias attempts under putin for expansion
