3 Baltic states disconnect from Soviet-era grid to merge with European energy system

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania officially severed their electricity connection to Russia, Belarus, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, ending over 30 years of reliance on the Soviet-era power grid.
This historic disconnection marks a significant geopolitical shift as the Baltics move to fully integrate into the European energy network.

Details:

The Baltic countries had notified Russia and Belarus of the disconnection plan in 2024 to avoid any potential escalation.
In the years leading up to this disconnection, sixteen power lines linking the Baltic states to Russia and Belarus were dismantled.
The Baltic states have since developed new energy infrastructure, including underwater cables in the Baltic Sea, to connect to the European energy network.
The Kaliningrad region, which lies between Lithuania and Poland, has been fully independent in terms of energy supply, relying on its own power generation systems.
It does not share land-based energy connections with mainland Russia, making the power disconnection less impactful for the exclave.

Geopolitical Significance:

The move is deeply symbolic for the three Baltic states, which have long maintained uneasy relations with Russia since their independence from the USSR in 1990.
The severance of power ties is viewed as a statement of autonomy and resilience, particularly in the context of rising tensions with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The move also strengthens the energy security of the Baltic region, as they now fully control their energy systems.

Baltic countries:

The Baltic countries are three sovereign states in Northern Europe, located along the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. These countries are Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The Baltic states were once part of the Soviet Union but declared independence in 1990, following the collapse of the USSR.
All three Baltic states are members of the European Union (EU) and NATO, having joined in 2004.
They have made significant progress in developing democratic institutions, free-market economies, and modern infrastructure.
The Baltic countries have shifted towards greater integration with Western Europe and have distanced themselves from Russia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Location:

Estonia is the northernmost of the three, bordered by the Gulf of Finland to the north, Latvia to the south, and Russia to the east.
Latvia lies between Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south, bordered by Russia to the east and the Baltic Sea to the west.
Lithuania is the southernmost, bordered by Latvia to the north, Poland and Belarus to the south and east, and the Baltic Sea to the west.