Arms acquisition as compensation for security: the Baltic States case study in the framework of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence

In 2016, NATO decided to enhance its presence on the Eastern borders by positioning four Battle Groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. This resulted in an enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Lithuania led by Germany, in Latvia led by Canada, and in Estonia led by the United Kingdom. The aim of this study is to highlight the nexus between the results of armament procurements in the Baltic States during 2014–2020 and the German, Canadian, and the UK’s resolution and continuation for eFP mission. The outcome of the study suggests a negative correlation between two factors as leading eFP nations had their own rationale for eFP mission in the Baltics.