The thought is that if he invaded the Baltics NATO would be treaty bound to defend them as they are in NATO. If NATO responded as tepidly as they did in Ukraine which was the first test, then NATO would crumble and all of the former satellite states would go back into the arms of Russia. A big gamble, but considering the state of the west’s military preps, is it that big of a gamble. Most wars have started because of perceived weakness by one side and western Europe is extremely weak militarily. With the current sequestration, I wouldn’t suggest we are strong either.
Ukraine wasn’t NATO.
All of this Breedlove and war drums in NATO is designed to do one thing. Its a raindance for the defense industry, designed to bring back the defense spending of the cold war. Nothing more.