“A look towards the Russian Federation - sanctions”: the ex-Foreign Minister of Latvia announced the dependence of the Baltic States on the USA in the matter of relations with Russia

The attitude of the Baltic countries towards Russia depends on the political course pursued by the United States with regard to Moscow. This was stated in an interview with Sputnik Latvia by the former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, Janis Jurkans.

“As soon as someone looks in the direction of Russia, there may be sanctions - as this was done with respect to companies participating in the Nord Stream-2 project,” Yurkans said.

According to him, while “the dollar reigns in the economic world”, the United States will use restrictive measures as a lever of pressure to maintain its influence.

The ex-head of the Baltic republic also believes that after the upcoming US presidential elections in November, there will not be any rapprochement between Washington and Moscow, and therefore relations between the Russian Federation and Latvia will not improve either.

“I don’t see any kind of reversal facing Russia,” he added.

Recall, US President Donald Trump signed on December 20 the country's defense budget for the new fiscal year, which provides for sanctions against the Russian gas pipelines Nord Stream-2 and Turkish Stream. The US State Department emphasized that “the parties involved in the project have 30 days” to terminate cooperation, but the Swiss company Allseas announced the suspension of project activities.

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Along with this, Yurkans believes that the “European Union is falling apart” and no one else takes into account the organization.

“Separately - with Great Britain, with Germany - yes ... After the collapse of the EU, to some extent, the regionalization of the European Union will take place. Latvia as a member of the EU needs to think - what’s next, what kind of union, with whom we will be friends, and what it all means to us, ”he explained.

Retired objectivity

Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council’s committee on international affairs, noted that this is not the first time that statements have been made by retired politicians from the Baltic states and other EU states who are sensible in assessing the current situation.

“When they leave their posts, they very objectively evaluate what is happening in their country, especially in relations with Russia. He told the absolute truth, this is true, ”said Tsekov.

He also expressed confidence that the United States is taking measures against Latvian politicians who seek to establish relations with Russia.

“If Latvia changes course towards improving relations with Russia, the USA will immediately take measures against those politicians who are trying to do this in Latvia. Of course, they will apply them if Latvia changes its course dramatically and goes closer to Russia, ”the senator added.

A statement by the former Latvian Foreign Minister once again confirms that the Baltic countries cannot act independently, RT senior researcher at the Center for European Studies of IMEMO RAS Vladimir Olenchenko said RT.

“The ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, as a person who organized foreign policy activities, had access to information on relations. His statement that such direct pressure or direct US intervention is being carried out is probably based on specific facts and experience of his foreign policy activity, ”the expert said.

In his opinion, the state of affairs, as announced by the Latvian politician, is not only maintained, but also aggravated.

“Judging by what we observe in the Baltic countries, this intervention and pressure has increased many times. One can rarely hear independent statements and independent actions from the Baltic countries. They, as a rule, go in unison with the USA, sometimes act as those who announce American actions, sometimes they are explained. He talks about this in relation to the course towards Russia, but it seems to me that, in principle, the foreign policy of the Baltic countries in general and in the European Union is also regulated by the USA, ”Olenchenko stated.

In December, it became known that Washington allocated assistance to the Baltic countries in the amount of $ 175 million, which in 2020 will go to the defense needs of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. At the same time, for the first time in the history of relations between the Baltic countries and Washington, $ 50 million is allocated from this amount, which will be spent on “supporting the development of the Baltic air defense”.

“Our ally clearly confirms his commitment to collective defense on the eastern flank of Europe,” said Estonian Minister of Defense Juri Luik.