Predecessors of the Declaration of Armed Neutrality. History and Modernity

The author examines the circumstances of the creation of treaties on free trade in the Baltic Sea in the middle of the 18th century, which became the prototype of the Declaration of Armed Neutrality of 1780. The article presents the historiography of the creation and authorship of the Declaration of Armed Neutrality. The author also expresses his point of view that the historical experience of Russia in neutralizing international sea routes to ensure the security of trade in the 18th century can be used in modern realities. © 2021, Rossiiskaya Akademiya Nauk, Institut Istorii (Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of General Hist). All rights reserved.