U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's speech was streamed to American embassies throughout Eastern Europe, including Estonia, Latvia (pictured above) and Lithuania. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh.
RIGA — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden reassured Eastern European NATO members of America’s commitment to their security during a speech in Romania Thursday.
Speaking in the Central University Library in Bucharest, Romania, Biden fervently denied that the U.S. decision to abort a planned anti-missile shield was a cave-in to Russian pressure, as many in Eastern Europe perceived. The speech was broadcast to American embassies throughout Eastern Europe, including the three Baltic states.
“We will never make a deal about anything with anyone above your heads our behind your backs and that’s what we live by,” Biden said. “Nothing about you without you. Nothing about you without you.”
The Obama administration’s decision to reverse the Bush-era missile shield proposal was criticized by the Lithuania but not Latvia nor Estonia.
Biden said that while the U.S. is attempting to improve relations with Russia and further cooperation on a number of issues, Russian claims to a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe would not be tolerated. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced on Sept. 1 that Russia considered former Soviet republics and satellite states to be within its “privileged” sphere of influence.
“The United States stands against the nineteenth century notion of sphere of influence,” Biden said. “We will not tolerate it and we will not be co-opted by it.”
Call to action
In addition to discussing security concerns, Biden praised Eastern European NATO members for their sustained commitment to democracy after the fall of communism two decades ago, saying they provided an example for the rest of the world on how to successfully build a free society.
“The odds were stacked against you. We know from history that destroying old oppressive regimes is a great deal easier than building new flourishing democracies. But you’ve delivered on the promise of your revolution. You are now in the position to help others do the same,” Biden said. “You can help guide Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine along the path of lasting stability and prosperity. It’s your time to lead. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus can benefit from your personal experiences … Be like those in ’89. Be bold. Exercise your leadership. You have a history, and you have a tradition. You can make a gigantic difference. And we’ll stand with you.”
Biden’s comments reflect Eastern Europe’s status as the frontline of Western democracy, which the Baltic states, wedged between the dictatorship of Belarus and increasingly authoritarian Russia, exemplify.
