Baltic Insights
Check out our latest analysis on Baltic security, U.S. Congress, and U.S.-Baltic relations.
Potential Halt to U.S. Military Assistance in Europe – JBANC Insights on the Baltic Security Initiative’s Future
Last week, the Baltic States received alarming reports from Washington, DC, with outlets like The Financial Times and The Washington Post stating that the Trump administration intends to halt long-time security assistance programs for Europe.
From Alaska to Washington: JBANC Insights on the Revitalized yet Uncertain Peace Initiative
The red carpet extended from the runway to the podium with F-22 Raptors flanking on either side. Air Force One was parked on the tarmac of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson with the beautiful Chugach Mountains visible in the background. President Trump waited on the red carpet and greeted Vladimir Putin, with the two men walking side by side to the podium. Putin had received a welcome befitting that of a leader of a global superpower.
NATO’s Strategic Turn: What the 2025 Summit Means for the Baltics and Ukraine
The 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague was the first major meeting of the Alliance since President Donald Trump returned to office, drawing heightened attention across Europe and North America, including in Baltic and Ukrainian communities abroad. This gathering came at a moment of growing unease among alliance leaders—uncertainty over how far they were willing to go in supporting Ukraine, and how much more could be asked of the alliance without risking internal fracture.
Latvia at the UNSC: A Strategic Win with Global Potential
On June 3, Latvia won election to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), securing a non-permanent seat for the 2026–2027 term. Latvia received 178 votes – well above the 129 needed for a two-thirds majority of the 193 UN members. This marks Latvia’s first time on the Council, following in the footsteps of its Baltic neighbors Estonia (2020–2021) and Lithuania (2014–2015).