The Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation as a Geopolitical Wedge of Russia in Central and Eastern Europe: Regional, State and International Context
The Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation as a Geopolitical Wedge of Russia in Central and Eastern Europe: Regional, State and International Context

Summary/Abstract: The Kaliningrad oblast of the Russian Federation is specific area of international relations observed in Central and Eastern Europe. The region can be understood both as area of cooperation and conflict between Russia and the West. The Kaliningrad oblast is also crucial area for security of Central and Eastern Europe, as in this subject of the Russian Federation are intersecting two key processes for European security: on the one hand, this is process of European integration, which is continued on the east part of Europe and the Kaliningrad oblast – due to its geographical location – is taking part in several nets of European cooperation. On the other hand, the Kaliningrad oblast is subject of the Russian Federation, which is carrying out great project of reintegration of post-Soviet area and the region is one of key elements of success of this project. The Kaliningrad oblast might play role of particular tool of Russian authorities to threaten states of Central and Eastern Europe, as they do in relation to other exclaves and separatist regions in post-Soviet space. The indicator of this factor is significance of the Kaliningrad oblast in system of national security of the Russian Federation as well as its geographical location, especially in the context of relations with states of Central and Eastern Europe.

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