Following the Russian seizure of Crimea in 2014 and the continued presence of Russian forces in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, the threat of conflict between the west and Russia is greater than it has been since the fall of the Soviet Union. The area most likely to be ground zero for such a conflict is the Baltic Sea region, which includes Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. All three of these states joined the European Union (EU) in 2003 and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004.
This periodical examines Russia’s view of Baltic membership in the EU and NATO and explores Russia’s new generation of warfare and tactics for preparing the battlefield. To continue reading the in-depth profile on conflict in the Baltic Sea region and learn more about how Radiant Solutions’ unique foundational geospatial datasets can be used to highlight specific locations within the Baltics that are most prone to Russian influence, please subscribe to our exclusive monthly periodical, the Radiant Spotlight here.
Sneak Peek:
Primary Target Populations
Throughout the Baltics, certain segments of the population are particularly vulnerable to the aforementioned Russian tactics. Ethnic minority Russian populations and other Russian speakers (such as older Poles and Belarussians) are the most susceptible because they tend to already hold a pro-Russian sentiment. Many are integrated into the government and military, making them a greater risk due to their influence. Other vulnerable populations include those lacking basic services, education or employment.
The data used to highlight the target populations was acquired from Radiant Solutions Human Landscape, which offers a wealth of country-level foundational geospatial information to enable more advanced analytics. By providing an understanding of key population demographics and social vulnerability, Human Landscape helps analysts evaluate the effectiveness of Russia's new generation warfare and guides counter-influence operations.