Strengthening the transatlantic partnership: challenges and opportunities for the Baltic States

Abstract

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg referred to 2021 as a year of opportunity to re-energise transatlantic relations and strengthen the bond between Europe and North America. This statement brought many commitments to be followed and steps to undertake. This article aims to discover what significance this would have for the Baltic States and how Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia can strengthen the transatlantic partnership. This paper also examines the current obstacles towards achieving cooperation and possible ways to cope with barriers. The main hardship is the Russian influence and threat of warfare still present in the Baltic region. Another hardship is geopolitical, where trade wars between China and North America and the recent start of Lithuanian-Taiwanese cooperation have made China more oppressive towards transatlantic cooperation. The author emphasises that strengthened cooperation should be maintained, and thus attempts to discover possible ways of Baltic States’ contribution towards the NATO-US relationship. Among these methods is cooperation between the Baltic States, such as institutional collaboration, common maritime and air defence patrolling operations, and cross-border civilian cooperation. The socio-economic and environmental fields must be respected in the sense of achieving more independence from Russian influence. It is also perceived that cyber security would be maintained via US-Baltic States cooperation. In conclusion, US commitment to Baltic security is part of the US commitment to European security, and the former would not and cannot exist without the latter. Thus, strengthening transatlantic ties involves building this partnership, reinforcing power, and preventing threats. This attitude appears to be beneficial for both sides.