Deterrence and Defense in the Baltic Region

Deterrence and Defense in the Baltic Region examines security requirements for the Baltic States and NATO in the context of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The war has provided an opportunity to understand the implications for NATO's eastern flank stemming from Russia's demonstrated willingness to use large-scale military force against another European nation, reassess pre-war assumptions concerning putative Russian military effectiveness, and to draw preliminary observations about Russian and Ukrainian combat performance. These observations help inform analysis about major aspects of defense of the Baltic region, with an emphasis on the key roles of precision-guided weapons. The authors conclude with a series of recommendations for the Baltic States, for NATO, and for the United States to enhance deterrence, defense, and security cooperation in Eastern Europe, with emphasis on the Baltic region.