The Council of the Baltic Sea States, to which all countries on the Baltic rim belong, is to hold its second heads-of-government pow-wow next month in Riga, Latvia's capital.

ECONOMIST: Nordic security

Running along the bed of the Baltic Sea, it would circumvent troublesome transit countries in eastern Europe.

ECONOMIST: French arms sales to Russia

This trend will accelerate in 2012, as politicians between the Baltic and the Black Sea ask why they should accept outside advice and instructions from countries that signally fail to practise what they preach.

ECONOMIST: Europe

From the Baltic Sea to the Balkan Peninsula, once-captive nations inspired the world when bold patriots stepped forward to regain their countries' sovereignty and their citizens' dignity.

WHITEHOUSE: Presidential Proclamation -- Captive Nations Week, 2012