Securing NATO's Baltic Flank
b'Since Russia\\u2019s invasion of Ukraine last year, the world has seen firsthand evidence of the threat posed by the revanchist state. Among those who perceive this threat most acutely are the three Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The fundamental facts of these states\\u2019 existence\\u2014their comparatively small size, proximity to Russia, and position on the northeastern flank of the NATO alliance\\u2014combine to make the threat both direct and real. But what can NATO do to deter Russian military aggression against the three countries in the future\\u2014and defend against that aggression should it occur? This episode tackles that question and features a discussion with Mark Cancian. A senior adviser with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, he is the author of a recently published report, \\u201cRepel, Don\\u2019t Expel: Strengthening NATO\\u2019s Defense and Deterrence in the Baltic States.\\u201d He joins the podcast to share some of the insights and conclusions featured in the report.'