President of Latvia Egils Levits, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda and President of Estonia Alar Karis jointly congratulated the President of the United States of America Joe Biden on 28 July in a letter sent on the day when diplomatic relations were established between the Baltics and the US hundred years ago. ‘Happy centenary of friendship, trust and cooperation between our nations,’ heads of Baltic states wished in their joint letter.
‘For Baltics independence was not a gift, we had to defend it on the battlefield. We know that freedom, sovereignty and independence are priceless. So do the Ukrainians. We wish to thank the United States of America for efforts to ensure that the US stands with Ukraine, together with its Allies and partners,’ says the letter signed by the Baltic leaders.
Congratulatory letter from presidents of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia thanks the US for helping to build a world based on international norms and universal principles. Letter of Egils Levits, Gitanas Nausėda and Alar Karis also thanks the United States for continued non-recognition of the Soviet occupation of the Baltics – 1940 occupation of the Baltics by Soviet Union has always been seen by the US as an illegal act. ‘The Sumner Welles declaration of 1940 was key to the continuity of our statehood,’ says the letter.
Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian leaders also mention joint interest in building closer economic relations with US, praising the on-going strategic cooperation within the Three Seas Initiative. ‘It is a platform for strengthening cohesion among countries of the Eastern flank, promoting trusted energy, transport and digital connectivity and supporting infrastructure links with Ukraine and other democratic countries in our region.’