The Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), in cooperation with Centre for Historical Research in Berlin (CHB PAN), is pleased to invite you to Klaus Zernack Colloquium 2026:                        

The Shadow Fleet and the Northern Turn
in Regional Foreign Policy.

Poland and Germany Facing Security
Challenges in the Baltic Sea

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Wednesday, 8 July 2026, 12:00-13:30
The Polish Institute of International Affairs Office,
Marienstraße 26, 10117 Berlin
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In the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic Sea has become a central arena of geopolitical competition and strategic transformation. The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, the strengthening of the Alliance’s eastern flank, and growing concerns over hybrid threats to critical undersea infrastructure have fundamentally reshaped regional security.

Against this backdrop, the discussion will focus on two interconnected developments: the expansion of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” used to circumvent sanctions and sustain its war economy while operating in Baltic waters; and Poland’s emerging “Northern Turn,” reflecting its deepening political, economic, and societal engagement with Nordic and Baltic partners.

Bringing together insights from the PISM latest report report “Russia’s Shadow Fleet under Pressure: Boosting the Impact of Western Sanctions”  by Elżbieta Kaca and Tymon Pastucha, as well as analyses by Damian Szacawa and Piotr Oleksy on Poland’s geopolitical reorientation, the event will explore how these processes are reshaping regional security architecture.

The round-table will also address the roles of Poland and Germany as key actors on NATO’s northern and eastern flanks, examining areas of convergence and divergence in their strategic approaches to deterrence, infrastructure protection, and regional cooperation.

The format is designed to foster an open and interdisciplinary exchange among researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners interested in the future of security in the Baltic Sea region.

Agenda:

Participation is by invitation only. The discussion will be held in English under the Chatham House Rule.

Due to the limited number of places, the organisers reserve the right to close registration early.