July 26, 2016
Dear Mr. Trump:
Since 1949 when NATO was formed, every Soviet and Russian dictator has tried to weaken or eliminate NATO: Stalin, Malenko, Bulganin, Krushchev, Brezhnev, Andropov, Chemenko, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, Medvedev and Putin, but they all failed. With your proposed policy for NATO, you might just succeed where they have failed.
Your recent remarks questioning United States support of the Baltic countries in case of Russian aggression greatly alarmed and disappointed me as well as many other Americans of Baltic heritage.
In your campaign speeches, you have promised that you will make America great again. Great in what way? Great at throwing countries that are friends and loyal allies of America under the bus?
You have promised that you will gain respect for the U.S. in the world community. Respect for what? For breaking an ironclad contract that has brought peace and security to Europe for 70 years?
You have promised that the U.S. will once again be a leader among nations. A leader of what? Leaders do not break the mission of an organization that provides security to large and small countries.
You have promised to bring change. But what kind of change? The first ever reneging of a security treaty with 27 sovereign nations?
Yes, the U.S. has served as the world’s policeman, but we have also been the world’s Samaritan. When countries are in danger of losing their precious freedom and sovereignty, to who do they turn to first for help? Not Russia, Germany, France, or China. It is “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave“. Mr. Trump, do we really want to lose this proud legacy for the pittance that is spent on NATO?
At the Warsaw summit, NATO decided to deploy a modest number of multinational NATO troop units, including a battalion of U.S. troops, to dissuade Russians from aggression against the Baltic countries and Poland. NATO seeks to deter aggression not only by military strength, but also by projecting unity among 27 NATO allies and the U.S. Yes, Putin wants to revive the Soviet Union empire, but his most important goal is to neutralize and destroy NATO.
The Balts have fulfilled their obligations to NATO, they are not free riders. Estonia has met their two percent share, Lithuania and Latvia are on the threshold to do so. Before they were members of NATO, they participated in NATO peace keeping and combat missions in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. They still are with us in Afghanistan. Isn’t that worth something, Mr.Trump?
I sincerely hope that you will make a clear and definitive statement promising that you will not abandon the Baltic countries while you ponder the NATO ledger.
If there are any questions or comments, my phone number is (323) 255-4315, e-mail: ValdisP@aol.com. Thank you very much you for reading my letter.
Wishing you the best.
Respectfully,
Valdis V. Pavlovskis, President
Former U.S. Marine and Vietnam War veteran
