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Moscow has sparked condemnation from Nato members after proposing to redraw Russia’s borders in the Baltic Sea.
The Russian defence ministry late on Tuesday laid out a plan to unilaterally expand the country’s maritime borders with Lithuania and Finland, both members of the military alliance. Less than 24 hours later, it deleted the proposal from the government website.
“Another Russian hybrid operation is under way, this time attempting to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt about their intentions in the Baltic Sea. This is an obvious escalation against Nato and the EU, and must be met with an appropriately firm response,” Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania’s foreign minister, said on Wednesday.
His ministry summoned a Russian diplomatic representative for a detailed explanation, and said Vilnius would co-ordinate its response with allies.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday there was “nothing political” in the defence ministry’s proposal, without commenting on its details. “You can see how tensions are escalating, the level of confrontation, particularly in the Baltic region, demands the necessary steps from our relevant agencies to ensure our security,” he said.
The plan is the latest attempt by Moscow to unsettle its neighbours following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Nato countries including Lithuania and Finland have warned of increasing hybrid attacks from Russia in recent months, including cyber attacks, forced migration and acts of sabotage.
The Russian defence ministry said the current borders in the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which borders Lithuania “do not fully correspond to the current geographical situation”.
Lithuania’s foreign ministry said it was “a deliberate, targeted, escalating provocation, aimed at intimidating neighbouring countries and their societies”.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said “Russia has not been in contact with Finland on the matter. Finland acts as always: calmly and based on facts.” His foreign minister, Elina Valtonen, said: “Sowing confusion is a part of hybrid influencing. Finland won’t be confused.”
Baltic countries, backed by other European powers such as the UK, Germany and France, have warned that Russia could be able to attack a Nato member within the next few years. But Stubb told the Financial Times last month that such an attack was “highly unlikely” even though Finland and Nato should prepare for the possibility.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
