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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 759 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 759

 Recognizing the importance of the alliance between the United States 
    and the Baltic States and expressing support for that alliance, 
     including for the Baltic Security Initiative, amidst foreign 
                              aggression.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 10, 2024

 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Daines, Mr. 
 Bennet, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Merkley, and Ms. Duckworth) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Recognizing the importance of the alliance between the United States 
    and the Baltic States and expressing support for that alliance, 
     including for the Baltic Security Initiative, amidst foreign 
                              aggression.

Whereas the Republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (referred to in this 
        preamble as ``the Baltic States'') first declared independence in 1918, 
        with the United States establishing diplomatic relations with the Baltic 
        States on July 28, 1922, leading to a strong and unbroken partnership 
        for more than a century;
Whereas the United States never recognized the occupation of the Baltic States 
        by the Soviet Union after World War II and maintained continuous 
        diplomatic relations with the Baltic States;
Whereas, in August 1989, approximately 2,000,000 people joined hands in the 
        Baltic States to form a 373-mile human chain known as the ``Baltic Chain 
        of Freedom'';
Whereas Lithuania became the first occupied Soviet republic to declare the 
        restoration of independence on March 11, 1990, a move followed by Latvia 
        on May 4, 1990, and Estonia on August 20, 1991;
Whereas, in January 1991, Soviet military forces tried unsuccessfully to quash 
        the growing independence restoration movements of the Baltic States, 
        leading to approximately 14 Lithuanian deaths, as well as 6 Latvian 
        deaths and many injuries;
Whereas, in February and March 1991, the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian 
        people voted overwhelmingly for independence through referendums paving 
        the path for democracy and freedom and the fall of the Soviet Union;
Whereas, since the restoration of independence, the Baltic States have served as 
        models of democratic governance that share values with the United 
        States, including strong institutions, respect for civil liberties and 
        the rule of law, and modern market economies;
Whereas the Baltic States continue to demonstrate their enduring commitment to 
        democratic values, peace, and security through their membership and 
        active participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred 
        to in this preamble as ``NATO''), the European Union, and the 
        Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development;
Whereas the Baltic States have been loyal NATO allies and demonstrated their 
        commitment to transatlantic security by exceeding the NATO defense 
        spending goal of not less than 2 percent of gross domestic product per 
        year;
Whereas, since the 2022 Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic 
        States have demonstrated significant support for Ukraine by providing 
        between 1.3 and 1.6 percent of their gross domestic product in military 
        and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and welcoming more than 130,000 
        Ukrainian refugees;
Whereas the Baltic States have faced Russian intimidation, espionage, and 
        cyberattacks since the restoration of independence, and have created 
        total defense strategies to counter aggression by the Russian 
        Federation;
Whereas the Russian Federation continues to pursue an aggressive disinformation 
        campaign against the Baltic States, including intimidation of Western 
        civilians and troops stationed in Europe and abroad through hacking, 
        propaganda, and other cyberattacks, and has increased air provocations 
        across the Baltic States, including disruptions of civilian air traffic;
Whereas the unilateral removal of buoys on the Narva River on the Estonian-
        Russian border in May 2024 by the Russian Federation was another attempt 
        to provoke a NATO ally and illustrates disregard for sovereignty and 
        territorial integrity by the Russian Federation;
Whereas the Republic of Belarus has embraced the aggression of the Russian 
        Federation by hosting its tactical nuclear weapons and Wagner Group 
        mercenaries, and by inciting insecurity at its border with Lithuania and 
        Poland by pushing migrants over the border;
Whereas Lithuania has faced severe economic and diplomatic coercion from the 
        People's Republic of China after the establishment of a trade 
        relationship with Taiwan;
Whereas the presence of the United States Armed Forces in the Baltic States and 
        Poland ensures regional security and complements NATO efforts to 
        strengthen its deterrence and defense posture within the eastern flank 
        of NATO, including an Enhanced Forward Presence posture in the Baltic 
        States, which host multinational NATO battlegroups; and
Whereas dedicated funding for the Baltic Security Initiative since fiscal year 
        2021 has helped strengthen United States security cooperation with the 
        Baltic States as well as enhance the national deterrent capabilities of 
        the Baltic States and further develop NATO integration and 
        interoperability: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the 
        security of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania through the enduring 
        transatlantic participation of the United States in the North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance;
            (2) supports continued security assistance for Estonia, 
        Latvia, and Lithuania, including through the Baltic Security 
        Initiative, to further strengthen transatlantic ties; and
            (3) recognizes the contribution of the Estonian, Latvian, 
        and Lithuanian people to transatlantic security and defense 
        while facing constant aggression by the Russian Federation, the 
        Republic of Belarus, and the People's Republic of China.
                                 <all>
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