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Border markers and a Baltic proposal in Russia's west
Summary
A retrospective on two border-related moves by Russia that drew protests and concern from Estonia's partners and NATO's Baltic neighbours.
What happened on the Russian side of the Narva River, and why did it draw a protest from the European Union? On 24 May 2024, the question was still fresh, a day after the removal of the markers that signalled the border with Estonia.
According to reports from 23 May 2024, Russia removed the border markers on the Narva River. The EU protested.
The episode followed another border-related development. On 22 May 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defence proposed unilaterally adjusting Russia's maritime border in the Baltic Sea. Baltic members of NATO, including Finland and Lithuania, voiced concern. The ministry later retracted the proposal.
Taken together, the two moves unfolded within about 48 hours along Russia's western frontier. One, on the Narva River, brought a formal EU protest. The other, in the Baltic Sea, brought public concern from neighbouring NATO members before it was withdrawn.
