The Baltic Alliance

The Baltic Alliance is a military alliance between the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Unlike other contemporary alliances in the post Human-Vannai War world, the members of the Baltic Alliance remain politically independent from one another. The three countries have instead formed an alliance of mutual defense, and have worked to keep each other secure. They have also introduced the "Balto" as a common currency for circulation between each other, as the Euro is now tied to the European Federation.
==History==
===Pre-War===
Once part of the Russian Empire in the 18th century, the three countries gained independence near the end of World War I. During World War II, the Baltics were occupied by the Soviet Union, briefly by Germany, and then ending the war once again under control of the Soviets. 
The Red Army occupied Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in June 1940 and installed pro-Soviet governments in all three countries. Following a series of rigged elections in each country in which only pro-Communist candidates were allowed to run, the Baltic states were incorporated as Socialist Republics in August 1940. Admittance into the Soviet Union was followed by brutal repression and strong attempts to Sovietize the native population through executions and mass deportations. Russian was enforced as the only allowed working language, and by 1941 about 10% of the adult population of the Batlics had been deported or otherwise sent to labor camps. The Germans invaded and occupied the Baltic states in 1941 and were initially considered liberators, but under their administration the killings and deportations continued. In late 1944, the Red Army returned to occupy the countries once again, and Soviet rule was reestablished. 
After WWII ended, Baltic resistance to Soviet rule remained strong, with unsuccessful guerilla wars waged in all three countries waged by partisans up to 1953. In the interim years, Russia sought to colonize the Baltics through mass immigration and population replacement, causing further civil strife. 
In the late 1980s, a massive campaign of civil resistance finally saw the Soviet Union's grip on the countries weaken, starting with the recognition of the three state's independence on 6 September 1991. Russian troops were pulled from the region, with the last installation closing in 1998.
After the restoration of their independence, the Baltic states sought integration with Western Europe, applying for membership with NATO and the European Union in 2002, and being accepted two years later in 2004.
===Human-Vannai War===
The Baltic Alliance was formed and mobilized during the Two Week War. Afterwards, the three countries worked together to maintain mutual security and had little interaction with the Armor Corps Coalition.
===Post-War===
Come 2019, the Baltic states found themselves sandwiched between the European Federation superstate to the west and the Romanov Empire to the east and south. Feeling their independence threatened by both massive regional powers, the three countries determined that the alliance between them was more important than ever. No nation relished the idea of being under Russian rule once again after the decades of human rights abuses under what they considered an illegal occupation, and Baltic leadership saw many of the same hallmarks of that period in the actions of the European Federation. Each of the Baltic states prizes their independence and have sought to maintain their neutrality in the shuffling of powers that has gone on since the end of the Human-Vannai War, and have made every effort to resist imperial expansionism from both the East and the West. 
==Government==
Each of the Baltic stats are democratic republics. Latvia and Estonia are unitary parliamentary republics, while Lithuania is a unitary semi-presidential republic. The Baltic Alliance itself is not a government entity; all three member states represent themselves in international matters and pursue their own policies, though they are often referred to as a group regardless.
==Policies==
===Military===
The Baltic Alliance is primarily a military alliance, and as a result all three nations have practiced a high degree of interoperability both before and especially after the Human-Vannai War. Lithuania and Estonia both provide the bulk of both active and reserve troops, with all three nations forcing a mandatory service period of all men of military age. Having been member nations of NATO for 10 years before the Vannai invasion and being considered geographically significant allies, most of the small arms utilized by the Baltic Alliance are quite modern. However, the Baltic states lack any sort of air power or armor. The alliance boasts a modest coastal defense navy of 34 ships of various marks and origins, ranging from minelayers, minehunters, patrol boats and small multirole warships. As of 2019, the Baltic Alliance maintained a combined active force of roughly 41,980 personnel, with 52,100 reserve personnel.
===Economic===
The modern Baltic states posses a primarily industrial economy, combining a low-wage, high skill labor force. During the 2000s, the Baltics saw strong economic growth. During the global economic crash of 2008, the Baltic states saw some of the deepest recession around the world, but conversely saw the fastest recovery by 2011. This was, however, coupled with a substantial loss in population to emigration, particularly in Lithuania. 
Of premier concern to the Baltics has been the security of energy. Lack of easy access to hydrocarbons in the three states has been a problem that has persisted for decades. Russia has the long been sole supplier of natural gas and oil via pipeline to the region, with few alternatives left available due to economic and political hurdles. The LNG carrier FSRU Independence, commissioned by Lithuania in 2012 in the hopes of helping remove reliance on Russian gas, was lost during its maiden voyage from South Korea in mid-2014. The LNG terminal at Klaipėda that had been built for it was eventually completed at operated at limited capacity for a few years until the formation of the EuF led to natural gas pocket reserves such as Melkøya island becoming fiercely guarded. As a result, despite a high degree of dislike for Russia, the Baltics have remained dependent on them to meet their energy needs.
After the collapse of the European Union, the alliance introduced its own currency for common circulation between the three of them, known as the Balto.
===Diplomacy=== 
Internally, the Baltic states have remained clearly distinct from one another; the close degree of collaboration between the three countries is a result of recent outside circumstances rather than brought on by natural camaraderie. The Baltic states do, however, share a common history of oppression under the Soviet Union, which has been a primary impetus in their foreign policy. The Baltics are reluctant to cooperate with Russia in any circumstance other than as absolutely necessary. However, while the Baltic states were once able to rely on the strength of NATO to preserve their independence, the three countries now find themselves bereft of outside military support, and have had to look to their own defenses. This vulnerability has further caused a degree of suspicion to influence the alliance's negotiations with outside entities. 
Although the unity between the three nations is apparently quite strong, there are some potential signs of weaknesses. Estonia has dearly considered itself a Nordic country and before the war made attempts to officially join the Nordic council. Although the authenticity of this self-proclaimed identity is debatable, the paradigm shifted abruptly when the Scandinavian Federation became a member of the the European Federation in 2019, laying claim to the Hiiumaa and Saaremaa islands just off Estonia’s coast. The Federation shortly after made it clear that it considered Estonia a Nordic country and therefor a rightful part of the federation. The announcement caused a large amount of consternation not only in Estonia itself, but throughout the Baltic Alliance. Despite previous leaders efforts to claim a Nordic identity in the recent past, the public reaction was mixed. Ultimately, Estonia refused the Federation's claims and asserted that it would remain an independent nation. This is attributed to a common likening of the EuF to the Soviet Union causing many to find association with the federation distasteful. Outsiders have speculated that the reason for this decision may have been due to the fact that while Estonia may be left in a difficult position as a member of the alliance, the alliance could put Estonia in a far more difficult position as a member of the federation.
Category:PACYOA: TE
Category:TE Nations
Category:Eastern Europe