“The Baltic countries are not NATO’s freeloaders”

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have each signed a bilateral defense agreement with the United States on the legal status of US troops in the Baltic countries. According to the Ministries of Defense of the three Baltic countries, these agreements will facilitate the deployment of US forces in the Baltic States and allow for joint exercises.

In Tallinn, the bilateral agreement on defense cooperation was signed by the Minister of Defense of Estonia Margus Tsahkna and US Ambassador to Estonia James Melville. “The agreement is a part of the enhanced cooperation we are currently engaged in with the United States, helping to make sure that NATO’s Eastern border is secured and peace ensured in our region,” said Tsahkna at the signing ceremony. In turn, the US Ambassador said that “the agreement is of great symbolic significance, ensuring long-term defense cooperation” between the two countries.

On Tuesday, a similar document on cooperation in defense was signed in Vilnius by Lithuania’s Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis and US Ambassador to Lithuania Anne Hall, reports Internet portal Delfi.lt. “I am confident that US troops’ presence here is a key factor that allows people in Lithuania to feel safer in today’s security situation and I hope that the constant presence will continue in the future,” said Karoblis. According to Anne Hall, the document “reaffirms the two countries’ mutual commitment to work side-by-side strengthening the NATO alliance.” “We are interested to have permanent presence of the US forces and equipment in Lithuania, it is one of the key elements of our security,” concluded Karoblis.

Earlier, President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite said that the Kremlin leader’s policy is unpredictable and therefore we have to be ready for anything.

The agreement on defense cooperation between the US and Latvia was signed on January 12 in Riga by Minister of Defense of Latvia Raimonds Bergmanis and the US Ambassador to Latvia Nancy Pettit. “This is a very important step in ensuring our battle capabilities and the development of our armed forces, as well as our national defense. Latvia has committed itself to ensure the presence of allies in our country and the documents signed are the cornerstone of this process,” Bergmanis told reporters after the signing.

It should be noted that the United States has already deployed Special Forces troops permanently in the Baltic States – decisively, but not making a lot of fuss about it. Gen. Raymond T. Thomas, head of the Special Forces Command of the Pentagon, told the New York Times, that the Baltic States did not hide the fact that they were afraid of Russia and therefore needed American help. According to the general, the Americans brought advanced tracking technology and extensive means of obtaining intelligence data.

COMMENTARY

Zaneta OZOLINA, Director of Advanced Institute of Social and Political Research, political scientist and professor at the University of Latvia, Riga:

“As for the signed agreements, there are several important components. First of all, it is not only one of the traditional signals for the assurance of support, it is also a practical measure to provide a safeguard and deter any potential ambitions of neighboring countries.

“Second, it is a very important political signal that the United States remain a committed and strong supporter of safety of the Baltic countries. It was especially important to demonstrate during the presidential campaign, when a lot of conflicting signals has come from Mr. Trump regarding NATO’s role and the country’s commitment to the Allies and to the principles of collective defense. Therefore, these steps, including the signing of these agreements, ensure that the presence of the United States and its contribution to security of the Baltic States remain unchanged.

“Third, an important practical consideration is that NATO is concerned about its eastern frontier. Therefore, along with other allies they are going to strengthen this eastern frontier.

“It should be noted that these measures are taken against possible potential steps on behalf of Russia, as this country sometimes indulges in vague statements about its national security policy.

“As you know, Trump has accused NATO countries that they refuse to bear the burden of defense spending equally. And here I must note that the Baltic countries are very serious about security and should not be the main target of Trump’s criticism. For example, Estonia already spends more than two percent of its GDP on defense, and even provides additional funds for some practical security measures. Lithuanian and Latvian parliaments have also taken the obligation to increase the defense spending to the level of two percent of GDP within two or three years. Therefore, there is a commitment on behalf of the Baltic States, which proves that these countries are not NATO’s freeloaders.”