Russia escalated maritime tensions in the Baltic Sea on October 11, 2023, when President Vladimir Putin signed a decree changing the name of Russia's continental shelf in the Baltic Sea to the 'Russian Baltic Sea shelf' and redefining its maritime boundaries. This move asserts Russia’s expanded claims over the underwater and surface maritime zones, which affects the rights and security perceptions of neighboring Baltic states and NATO members in the region. The decree is seen as an effort to consolidate resource control and increase military and naval leverage in this geopolitically sensitive area. Baltic nations and NATO may respond by increasing maritime patrols and diplomatic efforts to counterbalance Russia’s assertiveness in the Baltic Sea maritime domain.

Russia escalated maritime tensions in the Baltic Sea on October 11, 2023, when President Vladimir Putin signed a decree changing the name of Russia's continental shelf in the Baltic Sea to the 'Russian Baltic Sea shelf' and redefining its maritime boundaries. This move asserts Russia’s expanded claims over the underwater and surface maritime zones, which affects the rights and security perceptions of neighboring Baltic states and NATO members in the region. The decree is seen as an effort to consolidate resource control and increase military and naval leverage in this geopolitically sensitive area. Baltic nations and NATO may respond by increasing maritime patrols and diplomatic efforts to counterbalance Russia’s assertiveness in the Baltic Sea maritime domain.