Baltic and the Grey Zone: Challenge and Response of LCS Basing

Abstract

NPS NRP Executive Summary ; The strategic focus on enhanced forward presence of US and NATO forces in the Baltics must include maritime forces as vital to this theater of contemporary and possible future grey zone or high intensity conflict in great power competition with Putin's Russia and its allies. In bi lateral exchange between OPNAV with select Baltic NATO allies' navy staffs, discussion has examined the basing of an LCS Baltic ports with strong host nation support to meet and repel Russian Federation maritime Anti Access and Area denial operations. This study responds to a potential political military requirement to explore the issues listed below of policy, strategy, and operations in the USN, US armed forces in Europe and select allies as host nations. ; N3/N5 - Information, Plans & Strategy ; This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrp ; Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) ; Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.