The Proceedings Podcast EP. 444: Managing Maritime (In)Security on NATO’s Northern Flank
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May 13, 2025 
Stefan Lundqvist, Commander in the Royal Swedish Navy and Arctic researcher, and Julian Pawlak, a maritime security expert from the German Armed Forces University, dive into the pressing issues facing NATO's Northern Flank. They discuss the evolving security landscape in the Baltic Sea amidst rising tensions from major powers like Russia and China. Key topics include the necessity for a unified maritime security strategy, the impact of the Ukraine conflict, and the critical need to safeguard vital infrastructures after events like the Nord Stream sabotage.
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Baltic Sea's Strategic Challenges
- The Baltic Sea is a strategically vital, shallow sea with many NATO and EU coastal states adjacent to Russia.
- Since 2014, Russia has escalated hostile maritime activities, including sabotage and jamming, disrupting the region's security and environment.
Ukraine War Impacts Baltic Security
- The war in Ukraine confirmed the need for stronger defense in the Baltic Sea region.
- Baltic and Nordic nations invest in area denial capabilities and asymmetric strategies inspired by Ukraine's defense.
Baltic Fleet's Strategic Limits
- Russia's Baltic Fleet is limited by geography and logistics and vulnerable to blockade by NATO forces.
- The Baltic Sea represents a multi-domain operations zone, demanding integrated defense across land, sea, and air.