Zoom Webinar: Great Power Competition in the Baltic Sea Region

Collaborations and partnerships exceed regional limits and are global. As are threats to stability and prosperity. The Baltic Sea region has dramatically transformed within 30 years. Nordic countries like Sweden and Finland have increased their presence in the West via membership in the European Union and closer collaboration with NATO. The re-established Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have become full members of the West via joining the EU and NATO nearly two decades ago. The aspect that has not changed over these years has been the support and engagement of the United States of America in the Baltic Sea region. Stable US engagement enables stability in the Baltic Sea region.

Meanwhile, the great power competition has not disappeared. The traditional interest of Russia to dominate the Baltic Sea has now been joined by increasing interest of China. Growing instability and hostility in the countries to the East from the EU does not allow to take the geopolitical stability for granted. Therefore, it is the task of this discussion to answer what should be the next steps for the United States and its partners in the Baltic Sea region?