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Reading Lithuanian political observer Agnia Grigas’ new book on Baltic-Russian relationships, lack of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian cooperation on important historical issues strikes the eye. Evidently, the last serious joint effort was around Baltic Chain times. Later, the Russian poet Ivan Krylov’s swan, pike and crab come to mind – busily pulling the load, as the reader remembers, in their differing directions.
Estonia, for historic and cultural reasons, wants to identify with the Nordic countries, while Lithuania shares old heroic ties with Poland. Latvia, caught in the middle, positions itself as the occasion dictates. Yet, no matter the personal preferences, geopolitically we are in the same boat since start of 20th century. Our interests, as well as strengths and weaknesses, are similar indeed. Like the living standards and demographic problems. And while we ourselves may see big differences, on European scale these are microscopic. To say nothing about the rest of the world.
Baltic cooperation is clearly needed. But is it possible? It certainly is. Let’s look, for instance, how the Nordic neighbours do it. Nordic Council of Ministers keeps on functioning, no matter the repeated wars, as a house of cooperation. So, if we don’t know how to cooperate, there’s a good example at hand. And, knowing that British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston’s words «nations have no friends, they only have interests», spoken in 19th century, are still valid today, the three-way cooperation is in the interests of all three Baltic States.
Compensations for occupation damages are just one among many tight spots in cooperation. Although it is quite clear that, in the foreseeable future, no-one is about to compensate anything – not Russia to Baltic States nor the other way around. For that, there is no political will whatsoever, and no real conditions. However, together Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania might be much more successful in impacting the EU’s Russian politics, first and foremost in energy security. As well as trying to force Russia to quit treating us as Near Abroad and recognise us as who we are – democratic and free members of European Union.
The Baltic cooperation inability is the more comical, that in difficult situations we’ll be forced into it anyhow. However, out of strain or due to lack of experience, it comes down to «we meant to do better, but it came out as always», quoting Russia’s one-time prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin. For instance, looking back to Moscow victory celebrations in 2005, where Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga just happened to be the spokesperson for entire Baltic trio. Which wasn’t a bad choice, but the prior bizarre political confusion could have been avoided.