NATO may be forced to strike Russian military bases in Kaliningrad if GPS jamming by Moscow causes a major civilian disaster, experts warn.
Russia’s interference with satellite navigation has become a daily threat across the Baltics, northern Poland, southern Finland, and even parts of Germany, impacting both military and civilian operations. Finnair has already suspended flights to Estonia due to safety concerns.
“If a commercial plane or ferry crashes due to GPS jamming, it will not be seen as an accident,” a NATO official stated. “It would be a deliberate escalation.”
German and Baltic officials are worried backup systems like the R-mode, which uses ground radio beacons, may not prevent disaster. Aircraft have rerouted or aborted landings, and ships have lost their bearings in the Baltic Sea.
Analysts fear NATO might be provoked into attacking Russian jamming systems, giving the Kremlin a reason to claim it’s under attack. “That’s exactly what Russia wants,” one expert warned, noting the potential for war if such incidents continue.