Readying for the Final Hour: Ideologies and International Affairs in Latvia and Lithuania

In the face of increased geopolitical tensions, particularly with Russia, the Baltic states of Latvia and Lithuania have reinstated compulsory military service, sparking debate among young people but overall receiving support. Two Green politicians, Justīne Panteļējeva from the Progressives in Latvia and Tomas Tomilinas from Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL), have recently joined their respective national governments, bringing a focus on social welfare and environmental sustainability to the table.

The Baltic countries are among the top defense spenders in NATO, aiming to reach 5% of GDP for defense spending. This emphasis on defense is partly driven by their geopolitical location and historical relationship with Russia, which necessitates robust military preparedness. However, while there is a focus on defense, there is also an understanding within the Baltic states that social welfare and economic stability are crucial for overall resilience.

Green politicians often advocate for policies that align with values such as environmental sustainability, social justice, and democratic values. For instance, the Progressives in Latvia have successfully made the tax system more progressive, with 95% of working people paying lower income tax starting from 2023. The Progressives also head the transport and culture ministries in Latvia, with the culture minister focusing on media independence, media literacy, and the protection of cultural heritage.

In Lithuania, the DSVL aims to play a leading role in the tax debate, with a focus on taxing the rich to fund increased defense spending. Tomas Tomilinas, a DSVL minister, identifies himself as the only "degrowther" in the Lithuanian parliament and advocates for a global system that distributes natural resources equitably. He also proposes the story of "old grandmother Europe" as a means to unite the EU, emphasizing the need for a values-based foreign policy to defend Ukraine and other shared values.

The Progressives in Latvia are responsible for the implementation of policies to strengthen defense and support Ukraine. The government aims to ramp up defense spending from 3.7% to 5% of GDP. Justīne Panteļējeva believes that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to a renewed sense of European solidarity and commitment among the Baltic states. She also acknowledges that while there is room for degrowth or post-growth ideas within her party, these ideas will not be widely accepted in Latvian politics.

In light of the current geopolitical situation, both Justīne Panteļējeva from Latvia and Tomas Tomilinas from Lithuania are advocating for a reconsideration of their traditional opposition to EU federalisation. They believe that the threat of war has led to a change in the Lithuanian parliament's stance on forest protection, demonstrating that it is possible to convince majorities that there are more important values than economic growth.

Moreover, Justīne Panteļējeva believes that there is a need for more conversations between northern and eastern EU member states (like the Baltics) and those in the south, as the latter seem to be slow in understanding the urgency of the current situation. She suggests that the EU needs to be a strong coalition of states to effectively defend against aggressive autocrats, oligarchs, and multinational corporations.

In conclusion, while specific details on the stance of Baltic Green politicians are not available, it is likely that they would advocate for policies that balance defense needs with social welfare and environmental considerations, using values-based politics to strengthen resilience in the face of geopolitical tensions. This approach recognizes that economic security, energy security, and social cohesion are integral to national defense. For Green politicians, this might involve promoting sustainable practices that reduce dependence on external resources, enhancing community cohesion, and ensuring that defense spending is aligned with broader societal values.

The increased geopolitical tensions, particularly with Russia, have prompted the Baltic states to reinstate compulsory military service, sparking debates among young people on personal-growth and education-and-self-development topics.
In the face of geopolitical threats, the Baltic states' focus on defense is augmented by their aim to achieve a 5% GDP defense spending target, a goal that necessitates robust car-accidents prevention policies to ensure safety.
The Green politicians in the Baltic states, drawing from their values of environmental sustainability, social justice, and democratic values, aim to bring about policy-and-legislation changes that increase taxes on the affluent, financing more education and career-development opportunities for the underprivileged.
Despite the emphasis on defense, Baltic Green politicians also prioritize general-news like forest protection and social welfare, with the recent shift in the Lithuanian parliament's stance demonstrated by its support for increased defense spending.
The Progressives in Latvia, responsible for key ministries such as transport and culture, advocate for media independence, literacy, and cultural heritage preservation as part of their mission for social welfare and democratic values promotion.
In Lithuania, the DSVL highlights the importance of addressing crime-and-justice issues, advocating for equitable natural resource distribution and green policies as a means of global stability and conflict prevention.
The Baltic Green politicians often emphasize accidents and fires safety issues when implementing skills-training programs, recognizing their importance in ensuring overall resilience and preparedness for potential crises.
As part of their focus on environmental sustainability, the Baltic nations invest in sports like football, which promote physical fitness and teamwork, contributing to job-search and personal-growth opportunities for their citizens.
The Green politicians' influence in the Baltic states, evident in the recent appointments of Justīne Panteļējeva in Latvia and Tomas Tomilinas in Lithuania, has brought attention to sports-betting and NFL regulations as a means of addressing financial stability and job-creation issues.
With their support for Ukraine and advocacy for EU federalisation, Baltic Green politicians have demonstrated a commitment to sports-analysis and sports-diplomacy, embracing opportunities to showcase their countries' values and solidarity during international events like the NFL and NCAA Football games.

Readying for the Final Hour: Ideologies and International Affairs in Latvia and Lithuania