In Tallinn and Vilnius agreements have been signed with the United States on the legal status of American troops in these Baltic countries. They will come into force after ratification in parliaments.
Estonia and the United States on January 17 signed an agreement in Tallinn on the legal status of US troops and their families in the Baltic state. The bilateral defense cooperation agreement was signed by Estonian Minister of Defense Margus Tsahkna and James Melville, US Ambassador to Estonia.
“The agreement is part of the close work we are doing with the United States so that the eastern border of NATO is protected and peace is ensured in this region,” the Estonian Defense Minister said at the signing ceremony. In turn, the US ambassador noted that “the treaty provides a legal framework and creates the preconditions for bilateral defense cooperation” between the two countries.
A similar document on defense cooperation on Tuesday was signed in Vilnius by Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis and US Ambassador to Lithuania Anne Hall. “I am convinced that the presence of US forces is one of the most important factors that allows Lithuanians to feel safer, and I hope that a permanent presence will continue in the future,” Karoblis said. According to Anne Hall, the document “once again confirms the readiness of both countries to act shoulder to shoulder, strengthening NATO.”
Both treaties will enter into force upon ratification by the parliaments of Estonia and Lithuania.
The US-Latvia defense cooperation agreement was signed on January 12 in Riga.
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