In response to the Russian aggression in Crimea, US President Barack Obama spoke with his counterparts in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, reaffirming the American commitment to defend the Baltic states under the NATO collective defence article.
In a conference call on 8 March between Obama and Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Latvian leader Andris Berzins and Lithuanian head of state Dalya Grybauskaite, the leaders agreed on the need for Russia to pull its military forces back to their bases in Crimea, allow for the deployment of international observers and human rights monitors to the Crimean peninsula and agree quickly on the formation of a contact group that could lead to direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia to de-escalate the situation and restore Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The heads of state made clear that Russia’s continued violation of international law would isolate it from the international community.
President Grybauskaitė said that the ongoing developments in Ukraine posed a threat to the security and stability of the whole of Europe.
Among the other issues discussed was the United States’ direct contribution to increasing the security of the Baltic region. On 6 March, the US sent six additional F-15 fighter jets to step up NATO’s air policing over the Baltic states. It was agreed that the security of the Baltic countries would be enhanced further if necessary.
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Source: The White House.
Cover photo: President Obama meeting Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Latvian leader Andris Berzins and Lithuanian head of state Dalya Grybauskaite at the White House in August 2013.
…Defend the Baltics…AND why am iii blocked from posting on the Estonian World fb???…
Dear Mr Gonzales – if someone has been blocked from posting on the EstonianWorld fb page, it is usually because the person has previously posted something which has either been considered a spam, or has not met community standards. Regards.
…the only posts iii posted to your timeline were Estonian Music Awards artist Kerli Koiv who was performing that day of your Estonian Awards show…iii posted two post one of her music…then the Estonian World fb blocked me…that violates freedom of speech and was an appropriate post and not spam…she is Estonian and its your countries Award show..so remember AND UNDERSTAND WHAT FREEDOM IS…again…our USA country defends the BALTICS and as an American iii absolutely agree…TO PROTECT YOUR FREEDOM FROM FASCISM…but you also violate my freedom to express…what does that reflect from you???…