The European Baltic Sea region country have long shared close political, security, and defense ties. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 highlighted the importance of these linkages and the necessity of building a more comprehensive approach to regional security and defense. In this context, Carnegie’s Baltic Sea Region Security Initiative brings together public and private sector representatives from every country in the region to discuss how to cooperate and overcome the most pressing challenges. In fostering greater coordination and cooperation, the Baltic Sea region can become a laboratory for other operational theaters in Europe.
The Europe Program in Washington explores the political and security developments within Europe, transatlantic relations, and Europe’s global role. Working in coordination with Carnegie Europe in Brussels, the program brings together U.S. and European policymakers and experts on strategic issues facing Europe.
Dan Baer
Senior Vice President for Policy Research, Director, Europe Program
Dan Baer is senior vice president for policy research and director of the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Under President Obama, he was U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and he also served deputy assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
Sophia Besch
Fellow, Europe Program
Sophia Besch is a fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Her research focuses on European foreign and defense policy.
Katrine Westgaard
James C. Gaither Junior Fellow, Europe Program
Katrine Westgaard is a James C. Gaither Junior Fellow in the Carnegie Europe Program.
The future of European security is on the ballot in 2024. Both in Europe and the United States, the growing appeal of right-wing candidates and ideologies threatens democratic values and multilateral cooperation.
To align and coordinate its response, NATO urgently needs to create a NATO command center that would focus solely on the Baltic Sea region.
The question of which Joint Force Command the two newest members fall under is dividing experts.
NATO has three Joint Force Commands located in the U.S. and Europe. With Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO comes a debate about which Joint Force Command should be responsible for these new allies.
Critics claim E-PINE is redundant now that Finland and Sweden have joined NATO. Instead, it's a chance to show U.S. flexible multilateralism in action.
The Baltic Sea region boasts some of the world’s most prosperous nations, almost all of which work together through NATO and the EU. Yet, the region still faces challenges that it needs to overcome to ensure its security in the context of Russian aggression.
The Baltic Sea region boasts some of the world’s most prosperous nations, almost all of which work together through NATO and the EU. Yet, the region still faces challenges that it needs to overcome to ensure its security in the context of Russian aggression.
NATO must remember that unilateral actions it takes in the Baltic Sea toward Russia could have global implications.
To capitalize on Finland, and soon Sweden, joining NATO, it is crucial for the alliance to prioritize the coordination of robust defensive responsibilities and capabilities in Northern Europe.
NATO members face a dynamic regional security picture in the Baltic Sea. The alliance cannot answer all of the threats; further capabilities will be needed.
