The Impact of NATO Enlargement on Russian Security in the Baltic and Arctic

After the discovery of energy and new transit routes, the Arctic has become the new competition area of global powers. The Arctic, which has a geopolitically important position, is the new struggle area of NATO and Russia. When we examine the region we see the members of the Arctic Council are Canada, America, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Russia. All of these countries are NATO members except Russia and Sweden. After Russia's attack on Ukraine, Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership and Finland was accepted. On the other hand, with the Baltic states also becoming NATO members, Russia is surrounded both in Eastern Europe and in the Arctic region. Therefore, the study seeks to answer three main research questions: first, how is NATO's enlargement process in the Arctic region progressing? Second, what is Russia's doctrine (policies) against NATO enlargement? Third, what will be the impact of NATO enlargement on Russia's security?