,,iii #aag? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #dii ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,janu>y #ca1 #bjbb,mr4 ,durb9 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,grassley1 ,mrs4 ,%ahe51 ,mr4 ,boozman1 ,mrs4 ,fe9/e91 ,mr4 ,braun1 ,ms4 ,baldw91 ,mr4 ,b>rasso1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,cruz1 ,mr4 ,c>d91 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,ms4 ,klobu*>1 ,ms4 ,coll9s1 ,mr4 ,m]kley1 ,mr4 ,re$1 & ,ms4 ,/ab5[7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations ,,resolution ,celebrat+ #ajj ye>s ( diplomatic relations betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,baltic ,/ates4 ,:]eas ! ,baltic ,/ates ( ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania orig9ally decl>$ _! indep5d5ce 9 #aiah2 ,:]eas1 9 #aibj1 ,soviet ,russia sign$ treaties ) ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania recogniz+ _! sov]eignty & r5\nc+ all t]ritorial claims ov] ea* ,baltic ,/ate 9 p]petuity2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates e/abli%$ diplomatic relations ) ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania z indep5d5t c\ntries on ,july #bh1 #aibb1 & ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,baltic ,/ates h gr[n /rong z p>tn]s = ! pa/ c5tury2 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/ #bc1 #aici1 ! ,soviet ,union & ,nazi ,g]many sign$ ! ,molotov-,ribb5trop ,pact1 :i* conta9$ a secret protocol divid+ ,ea/]n ,europe into sph]es ( influ5ce1 ) ! ,baltic ,/ates ultimately be+ assign$ to ! ,soviet ,union1 lead+ soon aft] to ! =cible incorporation ( ! ,baltic ,/ates into ! ,soviet ,union2 ,:]eas1 foll[+ ,_w ,w> ,,ii1 ! ,soviet ,union =cibly occupi$ ! ,baltic ,/ates1 impos+ its model ( ,soviet totalit>ianism = m ?an #e decades2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates nev] recogniz$ ! illegal occupation ( ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania by ! ,soviet ,union1 in/ead ma9ta9+ #ajj ye>s ( cont9u\s diplomatic relations ) ! ,baltic ,/ates2 ,:]eas1 9 ,augu/ #aihi1 approximately #b1jjj1jjj p jo9$ h&s 9 ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania to =m a #cgc-mile human *a9 across ! #c /ates kn[n z ! ,baltic ,*a9 ( ,fre$om2 ,:]eas1 9 ,febru>y #aiij1 ! p ( ,li?uania p>ticipat$ 9 ! fir/ free election to select a new p>liam5t1 :i* promptly vot$ to re/ore indep5d5ce1 mak+ ,li?uania ! fir/ occupi$ ,soviet republic to decl>e indep5d5ce on ,m>* #aa1 #aiij1 a move subsequ5tly foll[$ by ,latvia on ,may #d1 #aiij1 & ,e/onia on ,augu/ #bj1 #aiia2 ,:]eas1 9 ,janu>y #aiia1 ,soviet milit>y =ces tri$ to qua% ! gr[+ indep5d5ce re/oration movem5t1 lead+ to approximately #ad ,li?uanian dea?s1 #f ,latvian dea?s1 & _m injuries2 ,:]eas1 9 ,febru>y & ,m>* #aiia1 ! p ( ,li?uania1 ,e/onia1 & ,latvia vot$ ov]:elm+ly 9 support ( _! respective indep5d5ce re/oration ref]5dums1 :i* ! ,unit$ ,/ates recogniz$ lat] t ye>2 ,:]eas ! ,baltic ,/ates help$ pave ! pa? = democracy & fre$om across ,ea/]n ,europe1 lead+ to ! fall ( ! ,soviet ,union2 ,:]eas1 aft] ! re/oration ( indep5d5ce1 ! economies ( ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania em]g$ z mod]n m>ket economies lead+ 9 te*nology & f9ancial s]vices sectors2 ,:]eas ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania cont9ue to demon/rate _! commitm5t to advanc+ democratic values1 peace1 & security ?r\gh _! memb]%ip & active p>ticipation 9 ! ,nor? ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization 7,,nato71 ! ,european ,union1 & ! ,organisation = ,economic ,co-op]ation & ,developm5t2 ,:]eas ! ,baltic ,/ates h be5 loyal ,,nato allies1 contribut+ to regional & global security ?r\gh op]ations 9 ,afghani/an & lead]%ip 9 ! ,,nato ,coop]ative ,cyb] ,def5ce ,c5tre ( ,excell5ce 9 ,e/onia1 ! ,,nato ,/rategic ,communications ,c5tre ( ,excell5ce 9 ,latvia1 & ! ,,nato ,en]gy ,security ,c5tre ( ,excell5ce 9 ,li?uania2 ,:]eas ! ,baltic ,/ates contribute to ! security ( ! ,euro-,atlantic area by sp5d+ at lea/ #b p]c5t ( gross dome/ic product = def5se & to global security ?r\gh det]m9$ p>ticipation 9 int]national alli$ op]ations & missions2 ,:]eas ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania 7 among ! fir/ c\ntries to p>ticipate 9 ! ,national ,gu>d ,/ate ,p>tn]%ip ,program ) ! ,m>yl&1 ,mi*igan1 & ,p5nsylvania ,national ,gu>ds1 respectively1 &1 s9ce #aiic1 h provid$ additional opportunities to enhance ,national ,gu>d skills & improve int]op]ability betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,baltic =ces2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjai1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,baltic ,/ates sign$ ! ,security ,coop]ation ,roadmaps1 outl9+ jo9t security coop]ation priorities = #bjai to #bjbd2 ,:]eas ! ,baltic ,/ates are actively involv$ 9 security assi/ance1 promotion ( democracy1 & protection ( human rights across ,ea/]n ,europe1 includ+ 9 ,ukra9e & ,bel>us1 9 ! face ( aggression & an increase ( troops 9 ,bel>us by ! ,russian ,f$]ation & ! manipulation ( ! migrant crisis 9 ,europe by ! ,luka%5ko regime2 ,:]eas ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,russian ,f$]ation has pursu$ an aggressive dis9=mation campaign 9 ! ,baltic ,/ates1 includ+ intimidation ( ,we/]n civilians & troops /ation$ 9 ,europe & abroad via hack+1 propag&a1 & o!r cyb]attacks1 & has increas$ air provocations 9 ,ea/]n ,europe2 ,:]eas1 s9ce ! re/oration ( indep5d5ce1 ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania h fac$ consid]able aggressive behavior1 intimidation1 & cyb]attacks f ! ,russian ,f$]ation &1 z a result1 h work$ to %ape total def5se /rategies to c\nt] int]v5tion by ! ,russian ,f$]ation2 ,:]eas1 aft] build+ trade ties ) ,taiwan1 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,li?uania has fac$ sev]e economic & diplomatic co]cion f ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a2 ,:]eas ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a has braz5ly impos$ a cu/oms blockade on products f ,li?uania & imports conta9+ ,li?uanian p>ts1 ) ! ,european ,union consid]+ tak+ ! matt] to ! ,_w ,trade ,organization z a violation ( int]national trade rules2 ,:]eas1 on ,decemb] #ba1 #bjba1 9 a call ) ,prime ,m9i/] ( ,li?uania ,+rida ,simonyte1 ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,tony ,bl9k5 und]scor$ ! ironclad solid>ity ( ! relation%ip ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ) ,li?uania z ,li?uania faces geopolitical *all5ges to regional /ability1 security1 & economic prosp]ity2 ,:]eas1 on ,janu>y #e1 #bjbb1 at a jo9t press conf]5ce ) ,=eign ,m9i/] ( ,g]many ,annal5a ,ba]bock1 ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,bl9k5 add$1 ,we h imm$iate conc]n ab\t ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,*9a's attempts to bully ,li?uania1 a c\ntry ( few] ?an ?ree million p4 ,*9a is pu%+ ,european & ,am]ican companies to /op build+ products ) compon5ts made 9 ,li?uania or risk los+ access to ! ,*9ese m>ket1 all because ,li?uania *ose to exp& _! coop]ation ) ,taiwan42 ,:]eas1 on ,janu>y #bd1 #bjbb1 ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se put #h1ejj memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces on high al]t = pot5tial deploym5t to ,ea/]n ,europe z "p ( a ,,nato response =ce2 ,:]eas support = ! ,baltic ,/ates by ! ,unit$ ,/ates rema9s a crucial factor = c\nt]+ su* economic & diplomatic co]cion by ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a & ensur+ security 9 ! ,baltic ,/ates & complem5ts ! ef=ts ( ,,nato to /r5g!n its det]r5ce & def5se po/ure1 includ+ an enhanc+ its =w>d pres5ce 9 ! ea/]n "p ( ! ,,nato ,alliance ) mult9ational battlegr\ps2 ,:]eas ! ,baltic ,/ates h be5 models = democratic gov]nance ) /rong in/itutions & respect = civil lib]ties & ! rule ( law1 :i* are *]i%$ %>$ values betwe5 ! ,baltic ,/ates & ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 & ,:]eas1 s9ce ! re/oration ( indep5d5ce1 ! democratic & economic developm5t & progress ( ! ,baltic ,/ates has e/abli%$ ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania z #c %9+ beacons = fre$om3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 celebrates #ajj ye>s ( cont9u\s diplomatic relations betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania2 7#b7 looks =w>d to cont9u$ gr[? 9 diplomatic relations betwe5 ! ,baltic ,/ates & ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 7#c7 commits to provid+ cont9u$ support = ! ,baltic ,/ates ?r\gh economic & security coop]ation1 includ+ ?r\gh ! ,baltic ,security ,initiative1 fur!r /r5g!n+ transatlantic ties & regional pres5ce ?r\gh ! ,nor? ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization2 7#d7 recognizes ! c\rage & resili5ce ( ! p ( ,e/onia1 ,latvia1 & ,li?uania 9 _! fight = fre$om & democracy 9 ! face ( aggressive behavior by ! ,russian ,f$]ation2 7#e7 /&s 9 solid>ity ) ,li?uania aga9/ economic & diplomatic co]cion by ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a2 & 7#f7 expresses ! wi% t ! next #ajj ye>s ( fri5d%ip betwe5 ! ,baltic ,/ates & ! ,unit$ ,/ates cont9ue to build on ! positive a*ievem5ts & progress made s9ce ! ,baltic ,/ates re/or$ _! indep5d5ce4