Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“As the European Union scrambles to respond to unsettling geopolitical conditions, three of the bloc’s smaller member states by the Baltic Sea – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – are already leading by example. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the three have been unwavering in their financial, moral, and military support for their southern neighbor. They have committed about 1.7% of gross domestic product to that cause. (The United States and the United Kingdom have provided 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively.) In addition, the three governments have resolutely strengthened their defenses, doing so well before the Trump administration’s tougher demands for NATO allies in Europe to increase their military spending. In February, the Baltics also completely disconnected from the Russian electricity supply system. Their resolve has influenced nearby countries that also share a land border, a strategic waterway, or both with Russia.” (04/30/25)