Russia Considers Changing Baltic Sea Territorial Waters Boundary "Security Guarantee Needed"

The Russian Ministry of Defense is pushing for a plan to change the maritime boundary in the Baltic Sea, prompting opposition from nearby North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies.

According to major foreign media on the 22nd (local time), the Russian Ministry of Defense drafted a bill the day before proposing adjustments to the border east of the Gulf of Finland and around Russian islands near the offshore territory of Kaliningrad, and posted it on the government legal portal.

Gas leak observed at the Nord Stream 2 underwater gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, Northern Europe [Image source=Yonhap News]

The draft pointed out that the current boundary, approved by the former Soviet Union in 1985, does not correspond to the modern geographical situation, but it did not include detailed explanations on why the maritime boundary should be adjusted, how it should be adjusted, or what consultations had taken place with other countries around the Baltic Sea.

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said at a briefing that day, "We can see rising tensions and increasing levels of confrontation in the Baltic Sea region," adding, "Relevant departments need to take appropriate measures to ensure our security."

The Baltic Sea is Russia's maritime gateway. Since Finland became a NATO member in April last year and Sweden joined NATO in March this year, the Baltic Sea has become surrounded by NATO member countries.

Upon learning of Russia's move to change the Baltic Sea maritime boundary, Finland and Lithuania immediately opposed it. The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Russia's push to change the maritime boundary as an attempt to spread fear, uncertainty, and doubts about intentions. It further emphasized, "It is a clear provocation against NATO and the European Union (EU) and must be responded to firmly and appropriately."

In response to such opposition, Russian state news agencies including RIA Novosti cited anonymous military and diplomatic sources saying, "Russia had no intention to change the maritime borders, economic zones, or continental shelf boundaries in the Baltic Sea, and still does not."