Baltic States to Ask Trump to Strengthen Denfenses Against Russia

Photo from Ukrinform–UATV

 

The presidents of the Baltic states are expected to ask the United States President, Donald Trump, to do more to deter Russia.

The presidents of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are scheduled to visit the White House today, April 3.

They want the U.S. to send Patriot long-range anti-aircraft missiles more frequently for military exercises in the Baltic states, Yevropeiska pravda reported.

They also want to become a part of NATO’s larger European anti-missile shield.

“I hope that the United States and other allies understand that the airspace of the Baltic states must be better protected and defended. It is important that (U.S. troops) are here on a permanent rotational basis in all Baltic states,” Lithuania’s President, Dalia Grybauskaite told her country’s public broadcaster, LRT, ahead of her visit.

Grybauskaite, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, and Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis are among the strongest critics of Russia in the European Union.

Citizens of the Baltic states have been worried by Trump’s refusal to strongly criticize Russian President Vladmir Putin, but they are in favor of him increasing U.S. forces in Europe and providing anti-tank missiles to Ukraine to defend against Russia’s hybrid forces.