On 29–30 October 2026, the XVII Annual Baltic Military History Conference took place at the University of Tartu Library Conference Centre, bringing together military historians, researchers and military professionals from the Baltic states and beyond.

This year's conference, entitled “The Baltic Sea Region in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Military History: From the Congress of Vienna to the Nuclear and Missile Age”, explored the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea region and the development of military power over two centuries.

The conference was opened by Colonel Jonathan Huxley, Deputy Commandant and Chief of Staff of the Baltic Defence College, and Mr Hellar Lill, Director of the Estonian War Museum – General Laidoner Museum.
In his opening remarks, Mr Lill highlighted the broader importance of studying military history, emphasising that its relevance extends well beyond military education.

“Military history, or the history of war and armed conflict, is not merely a specialised subject taught to junior officers and senior military personnel. It is part of history as a whole and, moreover, an inseparable part of general knowledge,” he stated.

The Baltic Sea as a Theatre of Great-Power Competition
One of the highlights of the conference was the keynote lecture delivered by Professor Andrew Lambert of King's College London, entitled “A Theatre of World Power: Britain, Russia and the Baltic 1807–1907”.
His presentation examined the Baltic Sea as an important arena of strategic competition between Britain and Russia during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The lecture provided a historical perspective on the relationship between maritime power, political influence and the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea in European security.

Building on this historical perspective, the conference addressed a wide range of topics related to maritime strategy, regional defence and military cooperation. Discussions covered the development of naval forces in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania during the interwar period, the importance of Estonian-Finnish naval cooperation and the role of the Baltic Sea in the military planning of European powers.
Particular attention was also given to the strategic significance of key geographical locations, including the Gulf of Finland and the Danish island of Bornholm, as well as the influence of geography on military operations and defence planning.

The programme further explored the Baltic Sea region during the First and Second World Wars, examining military operations, naval strategies and the competing interests of major powers. The Cold War period was addressed through topics such as the Soviet military presence in the region, the development of maritime defence capabilities and the deployment of ballistic missile systems in the Baltic states.

In addition to historical military operations and strategic planning, the conference highlighted the evolution of naval technology, submarine capabilities and the importance of maritime heritage research.

Several presentations also connected historical developments with contemporary security challenges, including regional defence cooperation, military preparedness and the evolving strategic environment in the Baltic Sea region.

Connecting Military History with Contemporary Security
Throughout the two-day event, the conference provided an opportunity to examine how historical experiences continue to inform our understanding of regional security and defence.

The presentations highlighted the enduring strategic importance of the Baltic Sea, where questions of maritime access, military preparedness, cooperation and great-power competition have shaped the region's security environment for centuries.