Sec. 1244. Sense of Congress on support for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
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Congress finds the following: The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are highly valued allies of the United States, and they have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to advancing our mutual interests as well as those of the NATO Alliance. Operation Atlantic Resolve is a series of exercises and coordinating efforts demonstrating the United States’ commitment to its European partners and allies, including the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, with the shared goal of peace and stability in the region.
Operation Atlantic Resolve strengthens communication and understanding, and is an important effort to deter Russian aggression in the region. Through Operation Atlantic Resolve, the European Deterrence Initiative undertakes exercises, training, and rotational presence necessary to reassure and integrate our allies, including the Baltic countries, into a common defense framework. All three Baltic countries contributed to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, sending troops and operating with few caveats.
The Baltic countries continue to commit resources and troops to the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. Congress— reaffirms its support for the principle of collective defense in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty for our NATO allies, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; supports the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and inviolability of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as well as their internationally recognized borders, and expresses concerns over increasingly aggressive military maneuvering by the Russian Federation near their borders and airspace; expresses concern over and condemns subversive and destabilizing activities by the Russian Federation within the Baltic countries; and encourages the Administration to further enhance defense cooperation efforts with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and supports the efforts of their Governments to provide for the defense of their people and sovereign territory.