Strategic debate regarding Euro-Atlantic security often focuses on the North Atlantic/Arctic and eastern Mediterranean/Black Sea regions. However, the Baltic Sea has emerged as a third region where navies and analysts alike keep close watch. Western powers require strategic and operational access to the Baltic region to support the interests of NATO allies and partners ashore and at sea. NATO members Denmark, Germany, Poland, and the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) are littoral countries, along with Finland and Sweden which, although not NATO members, are both are close NATO partners.
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