The Roots and Resilience of Pro-Americanism in the Baltics

Abstract

The US exit from Afghanistan, together with other geopolitical tremors, prompted commentary suggesting that Washington’s credibility had been badly shredded such that its allies no longer view it as a trustworthy partner. Yet despite such dire assessments, the three Baltic states remain confident that in their hour of need, the US would marshal its armed forces and come to their aid. While for many the phrase “indispensable nation” provokes scorn and eye-rolling, a majority of Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians view the US precisely in that light. How do we account for the fact that this part of Europe has proven to have such fertile and resilient soil for pro-American sentiment? What explains the remarkable staying power of this phenomenon? As the US and Baltic republics mark 100 years of established diplomatic relations in the summer of 2022, this is an opportune time to provide a genealogy of pro-Americanism in the Baltics, disentangle the reasons behind its longevity, and assess the likelihood of its endurance in the future. The core thread that runs through this essay argues that, stripped to its fundamentals, Baltic Atlanticism flows from positive historical encounters with Washington, as well as the conviction among contemporary Baltic officials that, today, only the United States possesses an ample military shield and the willingness to use it in defense of small states in a volatile neighborhood. As this article takes stock of the Baltic states’ pro-Americanism, one important methodological question is in order, namely: is it possible to lump all three Baltic republics together given their cultural and linguistic differences? While clearly