The Speaker, the Supplemental, and the Continuing Resolution
Three focal points have dominated in the United States Congress over the past two months: Congressman Mike Johnson from Louisiana seemed to have come out of nowhere to assume the Speakership after the abrupt departure of Kevin McCarthy on October 3 following the successful “motion to vacate” vote to removeContinue Reading
JBANC 2023 summer intern Jack Rosswurm is recipient of prestigious Hamilton Lugar School Dean’s Scholarship at Indiana University
Jack Rosswurm is currently earning his Master of Arts in European Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, where he is studying liberalism in the EU and European integration. Since beginning to learn Estonian in the Summer of 2022, Jack has found a special interest in the Baltic states. After Russia launched its renewed unprovokedContinue Reading
Central and East European Coalition engages with Congress and Biden Administration
The Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) was established in 1994 and is currently composed of fifteen active national, membership-based organizations representing Americans from Armenian, Belarusan, Croatian, Estonian, Georgian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, and Ukrainian descent. The CEEC represents over 20 million Americans with heritage from the CEEContinue Reading
2023 Baltic Advocacy Days Wrap Up
This year’s hybrid Baltic Advocacy Days event was a success! With 44 registered participants, BAD was hosted from July 17-21 by JBANC. 25 meetings with the congressional offices of 13 different states were held in the United States Congress, both virtually and in-person. Out of all the meetings, New YorkContinue Reading
JBANC Statement on Ukraine, NATO, and Chaos in Russia
The short-lived June 23-24 Russian mutiny led by the Wagner Group’s Yevgeny Prigozhin placed the instability of Russia on full display, from the uncertain domestic military response to the coup attempt to the dissonance of Putin’s message labeling Prigozhin and Wagner as traitors. The fact remains that the Wagner GroupContinue Reading
Baltic Advocacy Days
Register now for Baltic Advocacy Days! Our 2023 Baltic Advocacy Days are happening this year on July 20-21. In 2022, we were virtual, and this year it will be a hybrid event, meaning that we’ll have in-person meetings on July 20, with virtual meetings possible during the week. The in-personContinue Reading
New House Baltic Caucus Members
Four Members Join House Baltic Caucus. We are thrilled to welcome four new members to the #HouseBalticCaucus! Warm greetings to Representatives Mike Quigley (D-Illinois), Chris Pappas (D-New Hampshire), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), and Pat Fallon (R-Texas). Thank you for supporting strong U.S.-Baltic ties! Rep. Quigley, the longest-serving member of the group, isContinue Reading
Central and East European Coalition Advocacy Day
The Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) held a congressional advocacy day on April 26 to discuss issues of critical importance related to the CEE region. Over 40 advocates from our communities in the United States came to Capitol Hill to take part in targeted meetings with over 20 keyContinue Reading
Ukraine Action Summit
The JBANC team participated in the Ukraine Action Summit on April 24-25, 2023. The Summit is a community advocacy event in the United States Congress hosted by the American Coalition for Ukraine, a coalition of now over 60 organizations, including JBANC, that are united in their support for Ukraine’s unequivocalContinue Reading
Central and East European Coalition Advocacy Day
Advocacy Day on Wednesday, April 26 on Capitol Hill. We invite you to participate in the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC)* Advocacy Day on Wednesday, April 26 on Capitol Hill. The event will organize meetings throughout the day with Senate and House offices onsite. Meetings are an opportunity forContinue Reading
CEEC Statement on Ukraine War Anniversary
February 24, 2023 On the first anniversary of Russia’s renewed bloody invasion of Ukraine, the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) takes stock of where we are today one year later. The Ukrainian people bravely fight on, defending their homeland against Russia’s imperialist land seizures, genocide, and kidnapping of theirContinue Reading
One-year Anniversary of Russia’s New Attack Against Ukraine
For Estonians, February 24 marks a day of celebration on the anniversary of the 1918 declaration of independence (Manifest Eestimaa rahvastele). This year, Estonia marks its 105th birthday. Freedom can never be taken for granted. Particularly during this time. This is especially tangible considering it being the first anniversary ofContinue Reading
JBANC Legislative Update
The central concern in 2022 for the Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) remains Russia’s war against Ukraine – a serious threat to the West. Our support for Ukraine has also prompted increased calls for additional security assistance for the Baltic countries. Baltic Security Assistance. JBANC’s focus has been the BalticContinue Reading
Arm the Baltics and Keep Malign Neighbors at Bay
Note: This report was published on the CEPA website on November 2. The US has sent considerable military aid to the three Baltic states, but much more could and should be done — a new budget debate is now underway in Congress. It is just over 30 years since theContinue Reading
U.S.-Baltic Relationship Celebrated at U.S. Capitol Event
Against the backdrop of Russian aggression in Ukraine, 100 years of United States diplomatic ties with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were commemorated at the U.S. Capitol on September 13, 2022. Relations with the U.S. are ever more critical for the three countries bordering their large neighbor to the east. TheContinue Reading
100 Years of Baltic-American Diplomatic Relations: A Centenary to be Celebrated and Its Lessons Learned
By Paul Goble – – – One hundred years ago, the United States extended diplomatic relations to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, beginning an unbroken tradition that involved both non-recognition policy and America’s involvement with including the three Baltic republics into the most important Western alliance, NATO. Each of theseContinue Reading
CEEC Statement in Advance of NATO Summit
(Washington, DC) — The Central and East European Coalition calls on the 117th Congress to uphold the terms of the Budapest Memorandum and to continue supporting the enlargement of NATO during the upcoming Summit in Madrid. Along with the just-concluded Three Seas Summit and European Union Council and G-7 meetingsContinue Reading
Baltic Advocacy Days Registration is Open until April 13, 2022
Registration for the 5th Baltic Advocacy Days is now open! All meetings will be held virtually, spanning the week of May 2-6, 2022. Deadline for registering as a participant is April 13, 2022. This timely event is an opportunity for Baltic Americans to come together and engage with Congress aboutContinue Reading
CEEC Statement Calling for More Support for Ukraine at this Critical Time
(Washington, DC) — It is time for the United States and NATO to increase their support to help Ukraine. The Central East European Coalition (CEEC) welcomes the additional provisions of military, humanitarian, and economic assistance to help Ukraine as now being provided in the nearly $14 billion package passed by CongressContinue Reading
JBANC Supports Campaign to Suspend Relationships with Russian Sister Cities
Municipalities around the United States are urging their local officials to suspend ties with their respective Russian Sister cities in response to the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) is joining the effort to call for suspension of these ties and urging AmericansContinue Reading
JBANC Action Alert: Urge Congress to pass maximum supplemental aid package for Ukraine
Dear Baltic Americans and friends of the Baltics, Russia’s murderous war against Ukraine is raging. It is time to act now and to call your elected officials to #StandwithUkraine. Urge your member of the United States Congress to immediately and robustly support military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Every dayContinue Reading
JBANC condemns Russian aggression against Ukraine
The Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) vehemently condemns Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and its blatant breach of international law. It is not only an existential menace for Ukraine, but Moscow’s destabilizing belligerency endangers the region, Europe, and the global democratic order. The United States and itsContinue Reading
Join the latest Call to Action to support the Baltics and Ukraine
The Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) is supporting the latest American Latvian Association (ALA) Call to Action. If you are a registered voter in the United States, please take time to voice your concerns to your elected representatives on the current developments and coming legislation concerning the Baltic region.Continue Reading
JBANC letter to President Biden on eve of U.S.-Russia talks
On January 4, 2022, the Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden to address the situation regarding Ukraine and the massive Russian military buildup along its border, along with escalating threats of a renewed invasion. The Kremlin menace impinges the security situationContinue Reading
CEEC Statement Denouncing Kremlin-Supported Efforts by Belarus to Destabilize the Border with Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania
(Washington, DC) — The Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) voices deep concern regarding provocations manufactured by the Lukashenka regime in Belarus – with the active support of the Russian Federation – along Belarus’ border with Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. Refugees are being cruelly weaponized on the Eastern borders ofContinue Reading
The U.S.-Germany Nord Stream 2 Joint Statement Raises Concerns
Serving on behalf of 25 million Canadians and Americans of Central and East European heritage, The Central and Eastern European Council in Canada and the U.S.-based Central and East European Coalition express serious concern regarding the Joint Statement of the United States and Germany on Support for Ukraine, European EnergyContinue Reading
Highlights of CEEC Historical Documents
During nearly 30 years of cooperative advocacy, the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) has conducted important work calling attention to transatlantic issues that affect both the United States and Central and Eastern Europe. Here, we decided to highlight some of the crucial moments in the coalition’s history. The 2000Continue Reading
Virtual discussion “The Day of Mourning and Hope.”
On Monday, June 14th, the ambassadors of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the United States met at the Lithuanian Embassy in Washington DC for a virtual discussion on “A Day of Mourning and Hope- The Living Memory of Soviet Deportees and Displaced Persons of the Baltic States.” June 14th ofContinue Reading
CEEC urges House leadership to reintroduce Transatlantic Telecom bill to support allies and counter malign actors
On March 17, the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) sent a letter to House leadership asking for support in reintroducing the Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act. In the letter, the CEEC urges action by the United States to counter Russian and Chinese malign influence with a “robust U.S. response andContinue Reading
A New Online Platform Looks at the Baltic Journey to NATO
The Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) has launched a new online platform The Baltic Journey to NATO: Exploring the role of civil society, diaspora, governments, and media, which highlights the milestones of the events that led to a successful NATO enlargement and membership for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.Continue Reading
CEEC holds first virtual policy event “Resilience & Russian Interference: Neutralizing the Kremlin’s Campaign to Dismantle Democracy”
On September 18th, the Central and Eastern European Coalition (CEEC) held its first virtual policy event called “Resilience and Russian Interference: Neutralizing the Kremlin’s Campaign to Dismantle Democracy.” The motivation behind the event stemmed from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Op-Ed published this past July in the National Interest, and theContinue Reading
Biden-Harris ticket from the Baltic perspective
On August 11, Joe Biden announced his pick for a Vice President – Kamala Harris, the U.S. Senator from California. And just last week, they both received a mandate from the Democratic National Convention. During the democratic primaries process, we looked at the candidates and their positions towards the BalticContinue Reading
Final Results of Baltic Youth Advocacy Survey
Report contributed by Madelena Miniats With the Baltic youth advocacy survey completed, a total of twenty-eight people participated from the United States and Canada, all of Estonian, Latvian or Lithuanian descent. The biggest takeaways were that young Balts are interested and ready to engage and participate in Baltic advocacy inContinue Reading
Joe Biden’s Vice-Presidential Picks from a Baltic Perspective
Report prepared by Madelena Miniats In early August, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is expected to announce his long-awaited vice-presidential running mate. JBANC has also been taking note on the different nominees and where they stand on foreign policy and Baltic-related issues. In this analysis, we’ll look at each ofContinue Reading