Oliver Moody’s book ‘Baltic, the future of Europe’ (John Marry, 2025) examines the Baltic Sea as both a historical crossroads and a contemporary frontier between Russia and the West. While much of the book focuses on the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—it inevitably draws the Nordics into the frame, highlighting their intertwined destinies in a region where history and geopolitics converge.
The Baltic Sea: From Periphery to Center
Moody argues that the Baltic has long been treated as a marginal space in European history, overshadowed by the Mediterranean, France, Germany, or Britain. Yet, the area has produced thinkers and artists of global stature, from Kant in Königsberg to Copernicus in Frombork and even Descartes in Stockholm. Today, Russia’s war in Ukraine has forced the Baltic Sea region back into the spotlight, making it central to Europe’s future security and cohesion.
Nordic Parallels: Finland and Sweden
A key Nordic implication is the repositioning of Finland and Sweden. Both nations, traditionally neutral or militarily cautious, reassessed their security policies after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland, with its long and difficult history of managing relations with Moscow, is described by Moody as a case study in resilience—balancing defensive strength with cautious diplomacy during the Cold War. Its eventual decision, together with Sweden, to join NATO marks a historic break and signals the Baltic Sea’s transformation into an almost entirely NATO-controlled area. This shift is more than symbolic. It strengthens the alliance’s northern flank, reassures the Baltic states, and constrains Russian influence. It also shows how the Nordics—often perceived as peripheral or sheltered—are now deeply enmeshed in Europe’s front line of security.
A Shared Frontier of Values
The book also underscores a cultural and moral convergence between the Nordics and the Baltic states. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania see themselves as defenders of Western values—freedom, democracy, and sovereignty—values equally championed in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Their unity lies not in size or military power but in a shared understanding of vulnerability. As Czech writer Milan Kundera once put it, a “small nation” is one that can see its very existence questioned at any moment. In this light, the Nordic-Baltic region becomes a testing ground for Europe’s response to authoritarian aggression. If the West is to recover confidence and purpose, Moody suggests, it may well begin here—where small nations stand firm against overwhelming threats.
A Northern Europe Recast
The implications for the Nordics are clear: they are no longer on the edge of Europe but at its defensive and moral center. The integration of Finland and Sweden into NATO, the resilience of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and the broader unity across northern Europe are reshaping the continent’s security architecture. The Baltic Sea, once a contested periphery, now represents Europe’s frontline. For the Nordics, this means their historical balancing act between East and West has ended—replaced by full alignment with the West and a renewed sense of shared destiny with their Baltic neighbors.
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