Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins warned that saw the Baltic Sea turning into a NATO lake as Sweden and Finland join the alliance. He voiced this in an interview with Finance Times, emphasizing that the Baltic could become a corridor under NATO influence, with Russia still holding a stake in the region.
Karins expressed that the Baltic Sea would be reshaped into a NATO-dominated area once Sweden and Finland become full members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. His remarks reflect growing anticipation that the alliance’s expanded presence would alter the security dynamics of Northern Europe, particularly in waters connected to multiple nations and external powers.
Earlier in November, a military analyst, captain 1st rank Vasily Dandykin, discussed potential naval deployments by Britain to the Baltic to safeguard subsea infrastructure. He argued that despite mounting pressure on Russia, NATO would struggle to fully seal off the Baltic region from Russian interests. Dandykin noted ongoing modernization efforts by the Russian Armed Forces in the north, including plans to restore the Leningrad Military District, which he believes would bolster the Russian fleet’s effectiveness in Baltic waters.
In another development, Konstantin Kosachev, formerly deputy chairman of the Federation Council, commented on the possibility of provocations in the Baltic Sea by Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. He did not rule out the risk of calculated incidents that could test the resolve of regional players and alliance commitments in the area. The dialogue around provocations underscores the fragile balance of power in the Baltic region and the strategic importance placed on safeguarding sea lanes and military infrastructure.
For policymakers, analysts, and security planners in North America and the European Union, the evolving posture in the Baltic commands careful watching. The accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO is often framed as a transformative step that reshapes alliance reach, maritime surveillance, and regional deterrence. Observers point to the Baltic as a strategic theater where land, air, and sea forces intersect with cyber and electronic warfare capabilities, creating a layered challenge for both NATO and Russia. The broader question is how alliance unity, freedom of navigation, and the protection of critical underwater assets will be managed as naval groups, coast guards, and alliance partners coordinate increasingly complex operations in coastal areas, straits, and international waters. Attribution: Finance Times, naval analysts, and regional experts.