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A nearly perfect marathon: the United States and the Baltic states’ accession to NATO

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  • Kaarel Piirimäe

Abstract

Ron Asmus, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, liked to say that the Baltic states had to run a marathon to join NATO but could rely on the support of their American ‘coaches.’ Estonian diplomats have used the word ‘babysitter’ to describe their American colleagues. While it is true that the result of NATO enlargement was never inevitable, the uncertainties of the process were diminished by cooperation between candidate countries and the forces inside the US who pushed for enlargement. Without delving into their motives, this article traces the role of the US as ‘coaches’ and ‘babysitters’ in making the Baltic states’ ‘run’ toward NATO a nearly perfect marathon, despite all the pitfalls and doubts along the way.

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  • Kaarel Piirimäe, 2024. "A nearly perfect marathon: the United States and the Baltic states’ accession to NATO," Journal of Baltic Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(3), pages 651-669, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rbalxx:v:55:y:2024:i:3:p:651-669
    DOI: 10.1080/01629778.2024.2370586
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