In a joint letter, Baltic presidents congratulate US president on 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations

RIGA - President of Latvia Egils Levits, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda and President of Estonia Alar Karis have jointly congratulated the President of the United States Joe Biden on the anniversary when diplomatic relations were established between the Baltics and the US one hundred years ago, LETA was informed by the Presidential Press Service.

''Happy centenary of friendship, trust and cooperation between our nations,'' the heads of Baltic states wished in their joint letter.

''For the 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 for their efforts to ensure that the US stands with Ukraine, together with its Allies and partners,’ says the letter signed by the Baltic leaders.

The presidents thanked the US for helping to build a world based on international norms and universal principles. The letter also thanks the United States for continued non-recognition of the Soviet occupation of the Baltics – the 1940 occupation of the Baltics by the 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.

The Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian leaders also mention joint interest in building closer economic relations with the 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.''