The Evolution of Baltic Frontline States’ Maritime Strategy From the Cold War to NATO’s Northern Flank

This book examines how the maritime strategies of the Baltic Sea’s frontline states have evolved from the Cold War to NATO’s contemporary Northern Flank. The volume develops the concept of the maritime frontline state, defined not simply by proximity to an adversary, but by the strategic importance of geography, infrastructure, operational functions and contribution to regional security. Drawing on Polish naval archives, alliance documents and strategic analysis, the book explains why ports, islands, maritime routes and smaller navies matter to Baltic security. Poland provides the principal case study, alongside Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The book reconstructs Warsaw Pact naval cooperation and the United Baltic Fleet, examines the transformation after 1989–1991, and traces NATO integration and the renewed emphasis on deterrence after 2014 and 2022. Its central argument distinguishes enduring geographical constraints from inherited equipment and institutions, showing why political realignment can outpace naval transformation. It develops Maritime Domain Control (MDC) as a framework for examining how military capabilities, surveillance, infrastructure and public authorities interact under strategic pressure. By connecting Cold War experience with contemporary Baltic security, the book shows how changing alliances, enduring geography and maritime capabilities have shaped the strategic role of the Baltic’s frontline states. This book will be of much interest to students of maritime strategy, Cold War history, Eastern European politics and International Relations.