The maritime security of the Baltic Approaches: NATO and the Warsaw Pact
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Authors
Gaudio, Jan Cody.
Subjects
northern flank
Baltic Sea
Danish Straits
Baltic approaches
Danish Navy
FRG Navy
GDR Navy
Polish Navy
Soviet Baltic Fleet
Finnish Navy
Swedish Navy
Baltic Sea
Danish Straits
Baltic approaches
Danish Navy
FRG Navy
GDR Navy
Polish Navy
Soviet Baltic Fleet
Finnish Navy
Swedish Navy
Advisors
Yost, David S.
Date of Issue
1983-06
Date
June 1983
Publisher
Language
en_US
Abstract
This research provides an analysis of the current maritime security threat to the Baltic Approaches posed by Warsaw Pact military expansion. Nordic regional security is discussed in order to determine the importance of the region from both the Warsaw Pact and NATO perspective. The role of Finnish and Swedish neutrality as well as the roles of NATO and Warsaw Pact allies are examined in terms of capability, resolve and national interests. Denmark, as the geographic key to the Baltic, is discussed in particular depth. As Soviet pressures have increased in Danish territorial waters and airspace, Denmark's support for NATO has been questioned. The contribution of the Federal Republic of Germany, militarily NATO's strongest Baltic ally, is also reviewed. The regional balance in the Baltic has moved in favor of the Soviet led Warsaw Pact. However, Soviet political and military pressure has been relatively ineffective and even counterproductive to date. Both Denmark and the FRG remain firmly entrenched in NATO. Neutral Sweden has become even more firmly committed to defend Swedish territory from Warsaw Pact encroachments. Possible options are explored to enable NATO to shift the regional balance in the direction of stable deterrence and provide renewed security to the Baltic Sea and its approaches.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
179 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.