Nordic-Baltic cooperation from Baltic perspective in the changing security environment

Abstract

The objective of the present research was to explore the role of Nordic-Baltic regional cooperation in the foreign policy strategies of the Baltic states. The changing political and security environment since February 2022 gave the Nordic-Baltic region a new relevance. To see how the external changes impacted Nordic-Baltic cooperation, Baltic foreign policy leaders’ perceptions about their country’s position in international relations were analysed. The analysis has used key concepts of constructivist and role theory to analyse motivations behind the foreign policy behaviour of a state. In the qualitative document analysis, the central elements of Baltic foreign policy leaders’ perceptions about their countries’ position and attitudes to regional cooperation were compared in a ten-year period. The analysis has shown a clear increase in Nordic-Baltic regional cooperation in the past two years, the support for Ukraine being a new focus of cooperation. Nevertheless, there are still considerable differences regarding the role of regional cooperation in the Baltic foreign policy agendas. Estonia is the most committed to the Nordic-Baltic cooperation while Lithuania appears to be the least interested in the Nordic-Baltic region. Differences in the communication of foreign policy leaders suggest that divergent perceptions and attitudes of individual policymakers affect the future perspectives of Nordic-Baltic cooperation.