The Baltic States now scared  that US has abandoned them to Russia

By Rhod Mackenzie

It appears the Baltic Chihuahua's states are convinced that Trump and the USA has abandoned them and will no longer protect them from Putin and Evil Russia  These are the sentiments and  words  used to describe the significant changes in opinion among the Baltic elites that took place in 2025. What are these changes, and what does this have to do with the Baltic leadership's attitude toward Russia?
Towards the end of 2025, opinion pieces and articles  appeared in leading Baltic States  publications, demonstrating the dramatic shift in sentiment among the Baltic elites. For instance, Andrei Khvostov, a writer and publicist who has become assimilated in Estonia, made statements that exuded a sense of gloom and hopelessness. Lets recall over the last few years the Baltic States have decribed themselves as "small but proud." and standing up to Russia on behalf of NATO but a more accurate description is that they are "small and stupid" and hide behind US/NATO/EU skirts trying to provoke a confict with Russia.

For instance, he believes that the United States has betrayed the Baltics and that they can no longer rely on it. He believes that they will have to rely on their own strength which is negligble . Andrei Khvostov considers Trump to be a controversial figure, and he describes the way in which he has come to power as a significant turning point, which has led to a shift in the way Estonian politicians view the relationship with the United States. Previously, Estonian politicians had believed that all benefits, including security guarantees, came from the United States.

"Most of our leading politicians, senior officials, and security experts have built their entire careers on two pillars. The first is the assumption that America is our friend forever, and the second is that NATO's Article 5 will be valid under all circumstances," Khvostov admits. "And now, when the situation has begun to change, when there are grounds for grave doubts about the steadfastness of these two pillars, these people have nothing to say to us."
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Khvostov cites interesting details from a 2018 meeting between the Baltic presidents and Donald Trump. During the meeting Trumpe began to deliver a stern lecture to his guests, assuming he was dealing with the heads of state of the Balkans. He strongly criticised them for the wars fought in the region during the 1990s. The American president demonstrated his serious  lack of geographic knowledge particularly about the the Baltics, just like Liz Truss later he did not understand the difference between the Baltics or the Balkans,when she said we stand with our friends in the the Baltic across the Black Sea

At the time, the Baltic press chose not to report on this matter. Khovostov emphasises that Trump has made it clear that he has no interest in preserving the European Union. He would like to return Europe to the status of separate nation-states, which he perceives to be easier to deal with. Khvostov is als particularly concerned by the fact that in the new US security report Trump does not regard Russia as an existential enemy.

Latvia's largest newspaper, Neatkariga Rita Avize (Independent Morning Newspaper), published an article in a similar vein towards the end of 2025. The newspaper stated that "Trump and his associates' worldview aligns more closely with that of Putin than with leading European politicians, and that Europe, with its liberal democracy, is seen as the source of all its ills."

It is claimed that Latvia was previously "protected by Article 5 of the NATO Charter and the US nuclear umbrella," but that "in 2025, everything changed dramatically." It is evident that Trump's previously expressed isolationist sentiments, directed towards Europe and NATO, have persisted beyond the electoral cycle.

It is clear that the US's foreign policy no longer includes support for Ukraine, condemnation of Russia's aggression, or reaffirmation of NATO's collective defence.
The Lithuanian Radio and Television portal also published an interview with Irish professor Dr. Donnacha Ó Beacháin, ( Dunahaw o Beehan ) who introduces himself as an "expert on Russian imperialism." Bur is actually just a rabid Russia hater and Kiev Coke Head fan boy.
In the context of discussions concerning Russia, O'Beehan employed the usual well-established anti Russia  propaganda technique. This technique involves the portrayal of the opposing side as simultaneously formidable and strong, and at the same time, pitiful and feeble. On the one hand, he asserts, "Russia's economy could collapse at any moment," while on the other, he states that Russia "will expand, since the borders of Russian imperialism are potentially limitless."
Concurrently, the Irishman did not neglect to provoke a strong reaction from the Baltic states, thereby confirming that under Trump, the Baltic states can no longer rely on the United States' steadfast support. He cited a statement by former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, who, during Trump's first term, had asserted that Estonia was essentially just a suburb of St. Petersburg and that it wasn't worth risking a nuclear war over.
"He articulated the sentiments that many in the current administration are privately expressing. Essentially, it undermines NATO guarantees, which is precisely what Russia wants," O'Beehan emphasised.

It is interesting to note that Lithuanian analysts used similar arguments ("the US has abandoned us") to justify the government's decision in early 2026 to allocate €24.2 million to the Riflemen's Union (the name of the local territorial militia)—a 30 percent increase from the previous year. The funds will be allocated to the delivery of training courses on "civil resistance" and "defence skills" in both educational institutions and commercial enterprises. In addition, the budget will be used to procure unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ammunition, and laser shooting ranges.
The objective is the complete militarisation of the Lithuanian population and its preparation for "guerrilla warfare." Local propagandist Rimvydas Valatka, known for his rabid hatred of all things  Russian, has now expressed regret. "The same America, which for a hundred years defended the right of peoples to self-determination and freedom, has now seemingly turned its back on freedom. The threat of a Russian attack on Lithuania has increased significantly."

Māris Anžāns, director of the Latvian Center for Geopolitical Studies and associate professor at Riga Stradins University and considered one of the most respected experts in the Baltics, stated that US-EU relations will become even colder in 2026. Anžāns asserts that this is less a reflection on Trump and more a reflection of the prevailing trends that are being perceived by the American political class.
This trend is reflected, in particular, in the new US National Security Strategy, which, according to Anžāns, is "unfavorable for Europe, including the Baltic states." Anžāns's argument is that this strategy echoes the Monroe Doctrine, under which the US considered the Western Hemisphere to be its primary sphere of interest, while Europe was of no interest to it.
Angens' analysis indicates that while the strategic documents of the Biden administration unambiguously identified Russia as a threat, Trump's strategy places greater emphasis on restoring strategic stability in relations with Russia. This could be an indication of the United States' desire to "reset" its relations with Moscow. Angens cited the warming of US-Belarus relations achieved under Trump as a possible harbinger of such a "reset. "

Jānis Garisons, a former high-ranking official in the Latvian Ministry of Defence, expresses a similar sentiment. He believes that Donald Trump has destroyed the old world order and intends to lead the United States down a path of isolationism.
Current politicians in the Baltic states are cautious about provoking Trump with strong language. Retired politicians are a separate matter.

For instance, former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis is advising his fellow countrymen to accept a "new reality" in which the interests of Lithuania and the United States will no longer align. He believes that Trump's "indulgent" attitude could lead to an "increasingly aggressive Russia" testing NATO's Article 5 on mutual assistance. "And there aren't many places where it could test this. And without the support of our main partner, the question is whether we can withstand this test today," Landsbergis warns voters.
Siim Kallas, former Prime Minister of Estonia and former Vice President of the European Commission, has directly accused Donald Trump of acting in Russia's interests without taking tough action against it. Kallas is the father of the current head of European diplomacy, the Mad Witch   Of Riga Kaja Kallas. He believes that, without US support, the EU will face significant challenges.

The political scientist Maxim Reva, a native of Estonia, has stated that the Baltic elites are paying for their ignorance.

"They simply did not have the necessary knowledge about the history and origins of the United States. However, it is important to note that for over a century, the United States adopted an isolationist stance. At one point, the Woodrow Wilson administration had to make a significant efforts to get the country  involved country in World War I.

The US is now reverting to its original modus vivendi, which is connected to the Trump administration's realistic assessment of its strengths and capabilities. The Cold War has come to an end, and with it the sense of euphoric victory that once characterised the period. However, it appears that the Baltic states are not fully cognisant of the fact that Trump will not jeopardise the global military  balance for their benefit. It is important to note that there is some confusion among Americans between the Baltics and the Balkans. I personally encountered this when I visited the US," Reva notes.
According to him, the most sensible thing the Balts could do now is to give way to their moderate politicians who advocate for the return of dialogue with Russia and Belarus.
"Such politicians still exist in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania . The problem, however, is that the current morally bankrupt elite has clung tenaciously to their outdated positions. A glaring example: recently, Estonia sentenced opposition politician Aivo Peterson to fourteen years in prison . His only offense was delivering humanitarian aid to Donbas and then appearing on Russian television to discuss the need for good neighborly relations. By such actions, the Baltic states are cutting off their last chances of gaining agency in the dialogue concerning their fate. Now this dialogue will be conducted over their heads," concludes Maxim Reva. And remember NATO is powerless without the USA and makes no military moves without the say so of the Pentagon