The Fight for Free Navigation. Construction of the Channel by the Vistula Spit as Part of the Political Struggle with the Russian Federation

Abstract As a consequence of Stalin’s decision, the Vistula Lagoon was divided between Poland and the Soviet Union. Since the Soviet fleet created a naval base in Bałtisko, from 1945 the possibility of using the waterway through the Bay by Poland was practically excluded. The Soviet side allowed iPoland to use the Gulf outlet only to a small extent. In practice, this meant the destruction of the seaport in Elbląg, but also radically limited the possibilities of economic development of this part of Poland, which for many centuries operated on the basis of the Polish economy. After 1989, the Russian side made it even more impossible for the Polish side to use transport routes through the Bay. Ultimately, Poland decided to build a canal through the Vistula Spit. This channel is to enable the revitalization of the port in Elbląg, but also the northern areas of Poland. The article presents the arguments of the Polish side, including economic ones, justifying the implementation of this undertaking.