Baltic Sea

Namejs versus Zapad: Military Exercises on Both Sides of the Frontline

Autumn is for military exercises. In September two major exercises have occurred in relative close geographic proximity, one in Latvia and the other in western Russia and Belarus. Latvia’s annual large-scale exercise Namejs 2021 kicked off on August 30...

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Reconceptualizing Lithuania’s Importance for U.S. Foreign Policy

  This report is part of FPRI’s collaboration with Eastern Europe Studies Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania and can also be viewed here   Executive Summary  During the immediate post-Cold War period, the importance of Lithuania, along with other Central-Eastern...

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The Reset of U.S.-EU Relations and the Baltic States

In the context of the new transatlantic rapprochement initiated by the new US administration, this policy paper offers an overview of possibilities to reinforce and deepen the long-term strategic partnership between the US and the Baltic states. After four...

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Identifying the Needs of Estonia’s Russian-speaking Minority: COVID-19, Data Disaggregation, and Social Determinants of Health

Estonia’s reputation as one of Europe’s most digitally advanced countries is best exemplified in its residents’ abilities to do almost everything online—from filing taxes, to conducting business, to even casting their ballots. Such digital achievements are also observed within...

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U.S. Force Structure Changes in Europe: Necessary, but not Sufficient

The recently announced decision to increase the U.S. military presence in Europe by sending 500 additional troops to Germany in the coming months is the right move at the right time in the right place. This announcement implements President...

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“Go with the Devil You Don’t Know”? Latvians Still Believe in Economic Cooperation with China

While COVID-19 has disrupted China's image in some European countries, the novel coronavirus pandemic has not undermined the perception of China as an economic powerhouse in Latvia. In a Europe-wide study mapping national public opinion on China in the...

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The Belarus Crisis through the Eyes of its Baltic and Nordic Neighbors

Thirty years ago, the collapse of the Soviet Union opened the door for three Baltic states to step on the pathway to independence, democracy and prosperity. But the door did not open by itself. Restoration of independence was achieved,...

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The Implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in Latvia: Room for Improvement?

Most discussions on Baltic Sea regional security focus on NATO, Russia, or pipelines, while forgetting social factors within the countries that make them less secure. In fact, research suggests that gender equality is actually a better indicator of a...

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Estonia’s Outgoing Government Leaves Damaged Security Legacy 

In the early hours of Jan. 13, 2021, Estonia’s coalition government consisting of the Center Party, the Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE) and Isamaa unexpectedly collapsed when Prime Minister Jüri Ratas (Center) tendered his resignation to President Kersti...

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US-Baltic Defense Cooperation in the Transition from Trump to Biden

Joe Biden, defeating the incumbent Donald Trump, won the US presidential election and will be inaugurated as the 46th US president on Jan. 20, 2021. Biden has from the campaign trail expressed his intention to return to less fractious...

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