The situation in the Baltic region, where Russia directly confronts Western countries, remains alarming
The situation in the Baltic region, where Russia directly confronts Western countries, remains alarming, although current events there do not arouse the same interest as did Swedish and Finnish NATO accession.
In recent years and still to this day, the most conflictual possible scenarios have typically played out in the region. But the situation there does not entirely resemble that of the Balkans in the 1990s.
Firstly,
in the Balkans, Russia ...
... engagement with Sweden gained momentum. In addition, NATO announced plans to deploy troops in Estonia. If this happens, Russia will face a dangerous situation where the waters of the Gulf of Finland will be controlled by NATO and a close partner of NATO. Kaliningrad supply routes could be cut off. Generating tension for Russia on the Baltic Sea in order to counter its success on the Black Sea is a new aspect of United States policy towards this country. The Baltic region may well become the next hot spot. And that crisis will be far more serious than even the current Ukrainian one.
Prepared for publication by RIAC Program Assistant Maria Smekalova and RIAC Portal Coordinator Daria Khaspekova.
