Suwalki Gap: The. Then, two years later, NATO underwent the largest expansion in its history, admitting seven more Eastern European countries, including the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which . [1] By one estimate from Harvard University, more than 130,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or severely wounded, in addition to the deaths of more than 7,000 Ukrainian civilians. Compared with other regional groupings in Europe, such as the Nordic Council or Visegrd Group, Baltic cooperation is rather limited. Timbering and fisheries enjoy modest success. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. There are other countries that border the Baltic Sea, such as Poland, Finland, and Sweden, but when people refer to the Baltic States, they are usually just referring to the three countries that sit on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which are Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. All of these issues involving NATO and the Baltic littoral states are coming to a head in the current standoff with Russia. It therefore makes sense for the senior U.S. officer on the continentthe Supreme Allied Commander Europe, known as SACEURto have the political preauthorization they need to issue orders in circumstances short of war. NATO needs to change too, writing a new strategic conceptin essence, the alliances manifestoto more clearly stress defense against and deterrence of a Russian attack in the region. All three countries are member states of the European Union, and the Eurozone. Industry in the Baltic states is prominent, especially the production of food and beverages, textiles, wood products, and electronics and the traditional stalwarts of machine building and metal fabricating. "Russia perhaps needs to see this is not an isolated act of a small country of 10 million people (the Czech Republic) but that there is true sense of solidarity across the EU or NATO," he said. cohesion and regional cooperation among the Baltic states. Twitter:@edwardlucas. Moreover, several routes of oil delivery also have been sustained from Soviet times: These are ports in Ventspils, Butinge and Tallinn. Jessica Chen Weiss, formerly a senior advisor for policy planning at the State Department under the Biden administration, makes the case that the United States is becoming consumed by competition with China, a strategy that could lead to dangerous conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded NATO withdraw all outside forces from the region and commit to Sweden and Finland never being allowed to join. And I havent even mentioned the five-nation Nordic Defence Cooperation framework, the French-led European Intervention Initiative, and, of course, the European Unions own nascent defense efforts: battle groups that mainly exist on paper. Russia More NATO troops needed from 'Baltic to Black Sea'. After the end of the Cold War, NATO added 14 more members from 1999 to 2020. However, they have also been encouraged as Western countries fortify the NATO alliance in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. For discussion of the physical and human geography as well as the history of individual countries in the region, see Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. And at the moment, he added, Russias military looks even weaker than normal after sustaining significant losses in Ukraine. Latvia, for example, was a leading producer of Soviet radio receivers. The Baltic States also had to develop new laws and constitutions so that they could make themselves into democratic states. And how might that be impacting the world? All are part of the European Union (EU) and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Moscows aggression may have permanently changed Nordic security debates. The Baltic states are bounded on the west and north by the Baltic Sea, which gives the region its name, on the east by Russia, on the southeast by Belarus, and on the southwest by Poland and an exclave of Russia. Among the animals that inhabit the region are elk, boar, roe deer, wolves, hares, and badgers. There is no common maritime strategy, though control of the Baltic Sea in a crisis will determine what happens on land. For the geographic region, see, "Baltics" redirects here. In the 20th century, the United States refused to recognize the Soviet Union's claim on Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia and supported the restoration of their independence in 1991. According to Plesch, much depends on how the situation in Ukraine progresses. [39] Since World War II the term has typically been used to group the three countries Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Ukraines economy and infrastructure have been dealt blows that will take decades to recover from. Before WWII, Latvia had a significant Jewish community. This highlights our next recommendation: fostering a public security culture that increases not only military resistance but also economic, social, and political resilience. Jan 12 (Reuters) - The Baltic States are talking to NATO allies about increasing military deployments on their soil to deter Russia, Estonia's prime minister told Reuters on . These three countries each have their own distinct language and culture, however, their histories often overlap. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The financial stability of the Baltic nations was an important prerequisite to their entering the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2004. Decision-making needs streamlining. "From Empire to Independence: The Curious Case of the Baltic States 1917-1922." Many here worry that if Ukraine falls, they might be next. These are Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, and they are located on the eastern shore of the Baltic sea. Rinkvis wants a permanent NATO presence on the alliances eastern flank. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Military (2020 est.) NATO exercises used to be different: harder, bigger, and costlier. The three countries were independent until the outbreak of World War II. On 8 November 1991, the Baltic Assembly, which includes 15 to 20 MPs from each parliament, was established to facilitate inter-parliamentary cooperation. Your guide to the most important world stories of the day. VILNIUS, April 23 (Reuters) - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on Friday joined a fast-growing list of NATO and EU members demanding the removal of Russian diplomats for alleged spying, in actions that have infuriated Moscow and look certain to provoke further retaliation. Keep up with the world without stopping yours. For more than 20 years, Estonias counterintelligence service has published a hard-hitting annual report about Russian subversion and other threats. About a quarter of Latvias population is nonreligious. up as tough on Beijing, even seeking to contain the rise of the worlds second-biggest economy. The Baltic states[a] or the Baltic countries is a geopolitical term, which currently is used to group three countries: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with. Delivered Thursday. [24], Even now being a part of the European Union, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are still considered as the most vulnerable EU member states in the energy sphere. Battle of Grunwald by Jan Matejko. Although the Baltic states are one small operational area in military terms, they have three national headquarters, each commanding pint-sized forces. In 1941, Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union. All three are today liberal democracies, with unicameral parliaments elected by popular vote for four-year terms: Riigikogu in Estonia, Saeima in Latvia and Seimas in Lithuania. The languages of the three Baltic peoples belong to two distinct language families. Speaks French, Russian and (rusty) German and Polish. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. By the end of the 18th century, all Baltic territory became part of the Russian Empire. The Soviet occupation of the Baltic countries was interrupted by Nazi German invasion of the region in 1941. Burnt-out Russian tanks seized by Ukrainian forces last year have gone on display in recent days in the capitals of the three Baltics states, Since Russia invaded Ukraine last February, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia three states on NATOs eastern flank scarred by decades of Soviet-era occupation have been among the top donors to Kyiv, The prime ministers of the three Baltic countries have urged the International Olympic Committee to ban Russian athletes from next years Paris Games because of the war in Ukraine and say a boycott is a possibility. Watchthe conversation onFP Live, the magazines forum for live journalism, orreada condensed transcript. Low energy supplies, inflationary prices, and an economic collapse in Russia contributed to an energy crisis in the Baltics in the 1990s. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the Baltic states struggled to make a transition to a market economy from the system of Soviet national planning that had been in place since the end of World War II. Want to read more on this topic or region? Since the decline of Russian influence and integration into the European Union economy, English has become the most popular second language in the Baltic states. During World War I, the Russian Revolution took place, bringing an end to the czarist Russian Empire. This reality gives the alliance flexibility with regard to NRFAs terms, she told VOA by email. Ukraines economy and infrastructure have been dealt blows that will take decades to recover from. The three states have the highest productivity of the former constituent republics of the Soviet Union. It starts with the Wests attitude to Russia. Xi Jinpings signature foreign policy is a shadow of its former self.. Flights were already banned from Russia as part of an EU-wide decision. Latvias population is about 1.8 million. As the Russian military buildup around Ukraine raises fears of a broader East-West security crisis, NATO allies are hastening to bolster the Baltic states defenses while non-NATO members Sweden and Finland are tightening their ties with the alliance. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania each adopted the euro as its common currency in 2011, 2014, and 2015, respectively. Between 1940 and 1953, the Soviet government deported more than 200,000 people from the Baltics to remote locations in the Soviet Union. Estonia and northern part of Latvia were ceded by Sweden, and incorporated into the Russian Empire at the end of the Great Northern War in 1721, while most of the territory of what is now Lithuania came under Russian rule after the Third Partition of PolishLithuanian Commonwealth in 1795. The two other headquarters are in Poland. Overall population fell in each of the Baltic states in the years following independence, primarily because of the return emigration of Russians to Russia, as well as other out-migration to western Europe and North America. [28] As it was in 2009 during the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute, when states of Eastern Europe were deprived from access to the natural gas deliveries, the reoccurrence of the situation may again lead to economic, political and social crisis. Through the efforts of the Polish authorities in recent years, contacts with Russia have been virtually frozen, a shameful war with Soviet monuments has been launched, attempts are being made to torpedo Russian energy projects, a large-scale anti-Russian information campaign is being carried out, history is being falsified, and anti-Russian sanctions by the West are endlessly prolonged, it said. Throughout the course of WWII, all the Baltic States lost significant portions of their populations. Daniel Milo, senior adviser at Bratislava-based policy institute GLOBSEC, said the combined moves suggested greater self-confidence on the part of the Central Europeans and could have implications for areas such an energy cooperation, where the region has until now been heavily dependent on Russia. The current divide between Lutheranism to the north and Catholicism to the south is the remnant of Swedish and Polish hegemony, respectively, with Orthodox Christianity remaining the dominant religion among Russian and other East Slavic minorities. 6.3 France. What will another year of war look like? Like Ukraine, the three Baltic states Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were once part of the Soviet Union. In 1940, all three countries were invaded, occupied and annexed by the Stalinist Soviet Union. Baltic leaders have long pushed for a permanent basing of U.S. troops, seeing it as the ultimate deterrent against a Russian invasion. The Soviets attempted to prevent these countries from seceding through economic blockades. Washingtons commitment to Taiwan hasnt been sold to the American public. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, Latvias capital and largest city is Riga, Lithuanias capital and largest city is Vilnius, U.S. States Bordering The Most Other States, The 10 Wettest States In The United States Of America. For example, a Polish exercise last year, despite making generous assumptions about their access to advanced weaponry, ended with Polish forces being slaughtered in five days and the Russians poised to take Warsaw. Swedish remains spoken in Estonia, particularly the Estonian Swedish dialect of the Estonian Swedes of northern Estonia and the islands (though many fled to Sweden as the USSR invaded and re-occupied Estonia in 1944). Chief writer on Russia and CIS. Therefore, the diversification of suppliers is needed. Further up the hierarchy, NATOs main land forces headquarters is in the Netherlandsbut splits taking charge on a six-month rotating basis with its naval counterpart in Naples, Italy. Sending this force to the alliance's most exposed members in Eastern Europe, even though NATO has no intention of taking part in the war, is a powerful, tangible indicator of NATO's commitment . This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 15:16. A curated selection of our very best long reads. A monthly digest of the top articles read by FP subscribers. The Baltic states consist of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Since 2003, there is coordination between the two organizations.[21]. During the interwar period the three countries as well as Finland and Poland sometimes were collectively referred to as limitrophe states (from French language), as they together formed a "rim" along the western border of Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union. In 1385, through marriage to a Polish queen, the Lithuanian crown merged with that of Poland. Extensive trade relations were established in the region, which would last until the decline of the Roman Empire. NATO's Article 5 pledges the alliance to defend its members. Please follow our comment guidelines, stay on topic, and be civil, courteous, and respectful of others beliefs. The three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are the only NATO members directly bordering Russia apart from Norway yet they had no foreign NATO troops deployed on their soil until . Finland is the standout example of this, with military conscription, extensive training for civilian decision-makers, counter-disinformation training in schools, and regular exercises. Explore this interactive map to discover how NATO works and how it responds to today's security challenges Latvians, together with Livonians, who are another indigenous group in the country, make up 62% of the population. NATOs Article 5 pledges the alliance to defend its members. Germanys shilly-shallying over Ukraine, which included banning Estonia from donating some much-needed howitzers to the beleaguered Ukrainians, have intensified doubts. The Baltic states are bounded on the east by Russia, on the southeast by Belarus,on the south. Rich countries that are farther from the front line should pay to have them where they matter most. Trees that adapt to the often poorly drained soil are common, such as birches and conifers. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949, which sought to create a counterweight to Soviet armies stationed in central and eastern Europe after World War II. So-called peoples governments were subsequently installed in the three countries. Most Latvians are Christian, mainly belonging to the Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and East Orthodox churches. Is that what is going to satisfy (Baltic) security concerns? Plesch asked in an interview with VOA. There are also about 4,000 NATO troops in the Baltic States. Answer (1 of 5): The Baltic countries are 3 states that are in the northeastern region of Europe. After the Baltic states had restored their independence, integration with Western Europe became a major strategic goal. However, in June 1940 they were invaded and occupied by the Soviet. Malowist, M. The Economic and Social Development of the Baltic Countries from the Fifteenth to the Seventeenth Centuries.. Pop. In June 1940, the Red Army occupied all of the territory of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and installed new, pro-Soviet puppet governments. (Required). Lithuanias official language is Lithuanian, which is an East Baltic language related to Latvian. Vilkauskaite, Dovile O. [23], Estonia usually was the best performing country in terms of energy security, but new assessment shows that even though Estonia has the highest share of renewables in the energy production, its energy economy has been still characterized by high rates of carbon intensity. During the Middle Ages, the Baltic peoples were divided into at least eight distinguishable groups. Fact: NATO has taken defensive and proportionate steps in response to a changed security environment.In response to Russia's use of military force against its neighbours, Allies requested a greater NATO presence in the Baltic region. FPsRavi Agrawalsat down with U.S. Trade RepresentativeKatherine Tai, the Biden administrations top official tasked with mapping out and implementing the White Houses trade policy. Sarotte said it depends on how permanent is defined, but that it is clear that a larger NATO presence in the east will happen, and will endure., In the view of Pabriks, the Latvian defense minister, NATOs new approach to the Baltics should mean much more capabilities, a classical strong presence in the region and also support to our national armies. If Russia does not like the prospect of a more powerful NATO, he said, then it can always choose to not threaten its neighbors., After Russias Ukraine Invasion, Baltics Push for Permanent NATO Presence. A jeep would follow behind with an officer bearing cash and checks to compensate farmers for their losses. Across the Baltic Sea, Sweden and Finland have also been boosting their spending. All Baltic states are now part of NATO and the European Union. While separate peoples with their own customs and traditions, historical factors have introduced cultural similarities in and differences within them. Though Estonia is an important producer of oil shale, a large share of mineral and energy resources is imported. However, those agreements can be regarded in significant part as null and void given Russian actions, Plesch said. Especially, the high share of renewables were introduced to the energy production of Latvia, that can be explained by the state's geographical location and favorable natural conditions. Three more members joined between 1952 and 1955, and a fourth new member joined in 1982. Any NATO expansion is sensitive for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who cited the issue as a justification, among others, for his invasion of Ukraine. Join FPs Ravi Agrawal for a frank discussion about the Biden administrations China policy and alternatives that it ought to consider. A lightning attack by Russian forces, likely following a period of intense, artificially created confusion, could reach the Baltic Sea or cut the Suwalki corridor in a matter of hours. They are classified as high-income economies by the World Bank and maintain high Human Development Index. What will another year of war look like? Meanwhile, these economies were stabilised, and in 2004 all of them joined the European Union. This let Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians preserve a high degree of Europe-oriented national identity. Experts are mixed when it comes to predicting whether NATO will establish a permanent presence in the Baltics anytime soon. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. Estonia is the northernmost of the Baltic States. [23] Other studies add other indicators to this list: diversification of energy suppliers, energy import dependence and vulnerability of political system. 5,841,000. For other uses, see, The first period of independence, 19181940, Third Partition of PolishLithuanian Commonwealth, German occupation of Lithuania during World War II, German occupation of Latvia during World War II, German occupation of Estonia during World War II, occupied all of the territory of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, European Union climate and energy package, List of cities in the Baltic states by population, Soviet deportation from the Baltics in 1941, Soviet deportation from the Baltics in 1949, "Why did Finland remain a democracy between the two World Wars, whereas the Baltic States developed authoritarian regimes? From an old black cassette player, Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" rings out through a damaged neighbourhood of the ancient Turkish city of Antakya, where few residents remain since a devastating earthquake left it in ruins nearly a month ago. But the inducements encourage U.S. companies to invest only at homenot elsewhere. Putins proposed veto on enlarging NATO any further directly infringes on the sovereignty and security of Finland and Sweden, which have for years maintained that though they do not wish to join the alliance right now, they have the right to apply should they choose to. Considering some militants as instruments of regional influence while fighting others has had disastrous consequences. He would later be assassinated, but the political entity he created would endure. The best way to increase the internal and external credibility of defense is to practice using difficult scenarios in real time. Area 67,612 square miles (175,116 square km). Evening roundup with our editors favorite stories of the day. Currently, U.S. troops are part of NATOs Baltic rotational battlegroups, which are led by Germany, Britain, and Canada. In 2016, we deployed four multinational battlegroups or "enhanced forward presence" to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. [16] This process contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, setting a precedent for the other Soviet republics to secede from the USSR. The climate is cool and damp, with greater rainfall in the interior uplands than along the coast. Like Latvia, Lithuania also had a large Jewish community, but it too was decimated by the Holocaust. [23], Possible threats to energy security include, firstly, a major risk of energy supply disruption. FILE - In this photo provided by the French army Friday March 18, 2022, a French soldier from the 7th Mountain Battalion wears a NATO badge at Amari air base, Estonia, Thursday, March 17, 2022. read more. No country in the region has enough of these defensive systems, and some have none. Once Russia has completed its conquest of Ukraine, that question will acquire . In terms of religion, just over half of Estonians are unaffiliated Christians. NATO as an integral structure will cease to exist." That would lead to a "fundamental collapse of the West" with some countries even willing to accept missile strikes on Poland and the Baltic . The Baltic states have been sounding the alarm since the 1990s. Because the three countries had been independent nations prior to their occupation by the Soviet Union, there was a strong feeling of national identity (often labeled "bourgeois nationalism" by the Communist Party) and popular resentment towards the imposed Soviet rule in the three countries, in combination with Soviet cultural policy, which employed superficial multiculturalism (in order for the Soviet Union to appear as a multinational union based on the free will of its peoples) in limits allowed by the communist "internationalist" (but in effect pro-Russification) ideology and under tight control of the Communist Party (those of the Baltic nationals who crossed the line were called "bourgeois nationalists" and repressed). Violent incidents involving Soviet forces and the citizens of the Baltic States occurred during 1991, until Soviet hardliners attempted a coup to depose Gorbachev. "We are aware of the fact that the Russian tanks, which are currently burning in Ukraine, were intended for a large-scale invasion of NATO countries, including Estonia . Last week, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks described Germanys approach as immoral and hypocritical.. The Baltic region is not rich in natural resources. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were considered to be under Soviet occupation by the United States, the United Kingdom,[13] Canada, NATO, and many other countries and international organizations. Click + to receive email alerts when new stories are published on This article covers the history of the region from antiquity to the post-Soviet period. Russian rule would extend over the Baltics until the early 20th century. Relations between the United States and China seem to be getting frostier by the day. You may opt out at any time. Elections in 1990 saw pro-independence parties win majorities in all three Baltic legislatures. Russias growing military presence in Belarus highlights the vulnerability of the Suwalki corridor, the thin neck of land connecting the Baltic states and Poland. The pandemics outbreak brought rare reporting freedoms. One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture. Delivered Friday. Two groups called the Samogitians and the Aukstaiciai became the Lithuanians, and five other groups would form the modern-day Latvian nation. In Baltics, Poland, grassroots groups strive to help Ukraine Since Russia invaded Ukraine last February, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia three states on NATO's eastern flank scarred by decades of Soviet-era occupation have been among the top donors to Kyiv Show More Summary Read a brief summary of this topic Baltic states The spy rows have come at a time of acute tensions between Russia and the West, including over Ukraine and over the fate of opposition Russian leader Alexei Navalny, who on Friday announced he was ending a three-week hunger strike in jail.