S TRATEGIC F ORUM S

The vulnerability of the Baltic states through both the EU and NATO, Poland, Germany, and and the need to defend against Russian hostile measures Denmark play crucial roles in the defense of the BSR. [...] shore states in the regional defense of the BSR, this While the Baltic-Nordic states clearly bear the brunt fourth Baltics left of bang report examines the nature of Russian aggression, the corrosive effect of hostile mea- of the challenge Russia poses to them and the ways in sures increasingly extends to the southern shore states of which the Baltic southern shore states are adapting to the BSR a. [...] As part of the This was due to differing threat perceptions and strategic views by the many nations of the BSR and is certainly the differences in strategic true of the southern shore states despite their key roles in perspectives among southern shore the security of the region. [...] tions of Russian hostile measures and hybrid strategy to The consequence of the trust deficit between Rus- avoid the loss of hard lessons learned in the aftermath of sia and the West was a consistent lesson of the politico- the annexation of Crimea. [...] The center conducts directed expressed or implied within are those of the contributors research and analysis in the areas of strategic and regional and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Defense studies and engages in independent and leading-edge re- Department or any other agency of the Federal Govern- search and analysis in related areas.