In recent years, geopolitical events have increasingly shown the close connection between energy and security. Discussions of possible crisis scenarios in the Baltic region draw attention to strategically important transport and export routes. One such topic is the export of Russian oil through the ports of the Baltic Sea and the question of to what extent this could become a tool of influence in the event of a conflict.
“The case of the Strait of Hormuz, among other things, shows that we — NATO and the northern countries — should pay more attention to the fact that in a crisis situation we can easily completely block the export of Russian oil through the ports of the Baltic Sea. And that is over 40% (!) of the total export of Russian oil. And the northern countries can easily stop this completely. Any cutting of logistics in Murmansk and the occupation of Kaliningrad would require greater political will, but closing the Baltic Sea in the event of an attack on the Baltic countries should be such an indisputable first response, and if the Russians saw that this was serious, I think it would serve as an effective deterrent. 40+% of total oil exports is a lot,” said writer and political processes analyst Jurģis Liepnieks on the platform “X.”
Other users joined the discussion:
Richards: Russia has an alternative — to send through the White Sea/Baltic Sea canal.
Uldis: If we do not consider the Black Sea, then this is practically the entire volume of oil that provides income for Russia. Payments for oil from China do not bring in much money. China knows how to make the right deals with idiots, unlike Western countries.
Lauris: That won’t happen. Northern Europe and Europe as a whole are too cowardly and Russophile. They would rather leave the Baltic countries to be torn apart than confront the Russians.
Juris: Ukrainians would do that. Our and Scandinavian political leadership with their “do not escalate” policy is unlikely to have enough courage. Technically, the Danes/Norwegians could carry this out, but the Finns would have to bear the brunt, as their islands would receive a retaliatory strike.
