Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • Israel-Iran
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • NATO
    • China
    • Syria
  • Research
    • Briefs
    • Explainers
    • Reports
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / NATO / The Baltic shouldn’t be a ‘NATO Lake’
NATO, Europe and Eurasia, Grand strategy, Ukraine‑Russia

September 9, 2023

The Baltic shouldn’t be a ‘NATO Lake’

By Scott Strgacich

Doubtlessly, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to significant ramifications within Russia and without. With an estimated Russian death toll of some 120,000, Vladimir Putin and his people have found themselves bogged down in a grinding attritional war that has invoked comparisons to the trenches of World War I. With a major conflict raging and nuclear threats being hurled from the Kremlin with reckless abandon, Europe faces a much more dangerous world than at any point since the end of the Cold War. Interestingly, though, the most seismic transformations in European security have taken place in the Baltic, a region whose key players once placed neutrality at the center of their strategic outlooks. But no longer.

Read at RealClearWorld

Author

Photo of Scott Strgacich

Scott
Strgacich

Contributing Fellow

Defense Priorities

More on Europe

op-edNATO, Alliances, Europe and Eurasia

More European defense spending isn’t cause for celebration

By Jennifer Kavanagh

July 2, 2025

op-edNATO, Alliances, Asia

Why America’s East Asian allies skipped the NATO summit

By Lyle Goldstein

July 2, 2025

In the mediaNATO, Alliances, Europe and Eurasia, Israel‑Iran, Middle East, Russia, Ukraine‑Russia

Trump heads overseas for NATO talks in wake of Iran strike and ceasefire negotiations

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

June 24, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Diplomacy, Europe and Eurasia

Hidden in the U.S. Army’s new reform initiative is a warning for Europe

By Jennifer Kavanagh

June 16, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Are the Russia-Ukraine peace talks going anywhere?

By Daniel DePetris

June 3, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Drones, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Drone attack may do Ukraine more harm than good

By Jennifer Kavanagh

June 2, 2025

Events on NATO

See All Events
virtualNATO, Alliances, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine‑Russia

Past Virtual Event: A ‘bridge’ to NATO or false hope for Ukraine?

July 12, 2024
virtualNATO, Alliances, Deterrence, Europe and Eurasia, Nuclear weapons

Past Virtual Event: New York for Paris? NATO and extended deterrence in a new nuclear age

July 2, 2024
virtualNATO, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Past Virtual Event: Reexamining the U.S. role in European security

May 3, 2024

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • About
  • For Media
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
© 2025 Defense Priorities All Right Reserved