The Russian Security Dilemma in the Nordic-Baltic Region

Rahmati, Reza

doi:10.22034/ca.2025.732613

The Russian Security Dilemma in the Nordic-Baltic Region

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Reza Rahmati

Assistant Professor, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

10.22034/ca.2025.732613

Abstract

Since Russia's war with Georgia in 2008, the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, its intervention in the Syrian conflict in direct opposition to Western interests, the invasion of eastern Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and its interference in the affairs of other countries, discussions about Russia's behavior and intentions have increased significantly in areas that have geographical proximity to Russia. Especially since the "Ukrainian issue" has a prominent non-geopolitical feature, and there are many "nation-states" with this feature in Russia's neighborhood and surroundings. The study of Russian foreign policy trends in the Nordic-Baltic region and the influential component of Russia's "compatriots abroad" can shed light on geopolitical trends in the Nordic and Baltic regions. The main question of this article is how the security dilemma has affected the relations between Russia and the Nordic-Baltic countries? Based on Russia’s understanding of the security dilemma, this research examines the issue that the security dilemma has expanded the scope of Moscow’s security threats to the Baltic and Nordic regions. “Uncertainty,” “self-reliance,” and “anarchy” in Russia’s foreign policy behavior have led to the weakening of national security dilemma in the Nordic-Baltic countries. This research will attempt to analyze Russia’s behavior in dealing with the Nordics and Baltics using the logic of the security dilemma.

Keywords

Nordic

Baltic

Russia

security Dilemma

Scandinavia

Subjects