Number: 96-584
Title: The Baltic States: U.S. Policy Concerns
Authors: Steven Woehrel, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division 
Abstract: This report provides background and analysis on the political and economic situations on Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia (commonly collectively referred to as the Baltic states), their foreign policies, and U.S. policy toward them. The Baltic states achieved their long-held dream of full independence from the Soviet Union in the aftermath of the failed August 1991 coup by Soviet hard-liners. Since 1991, the these three countries have made great strides in building democracies and free market economies. They have also sought integration into Western economic and security structures, in part because they see themselves as part of the West, in part to protect themselves from instability or a nationalist resurgence in Russia. The Baltic states achieved these goals in 2004, joining NATO in March and the European Union in May.
Pages: 13
Date: August 13, 2004