Soviet foreign policy during the Cold War: the Baltic factor
LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Sovietų užsienio politika; Šaltasis karas; Baltijos valstybės; Soviet foreign policy; Cold war; Baltic States.
ENIn the early stages of Soviet power, bringing Bolshevism to the Baltic states was seen as a necessary step towards transforming the civil war in Russia into a ‘world revolution’. Ultimately, however, Soviet Russia had to enter into negotiations with the governments of independent Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, whose difficult domestic and foreign situations made them keen to bargain for peace. The treaties that Russia signed with the three countries in 1920 recognised their right to independence and rejected all future claims upon their territories. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for their part became the first governments to recognise Soviet Russia de jure. The Soviet Union and the three Baltic states enjoyed peaceful but hardly stable relations during the two decades that followed. After some delay, Baltic governments disarmed the troops of the Russian White Army, which were still located on their territories, as well as prohibiting political activity by Russian immigrants. The three countries, however, remained very cautious when developing relations with the Soviet Union, as the latter did little to hide its true intentions towards them. The Communist International was administered from Soviet territory and incorporated Baltic communist parties intent on the violent seizure of power and establishment of Soviet rule in their home countries. This was not simply empty rhetoric, as can be seen from the attempted 1924 Communist coup in Estonia instigated by the leaders of the Communist International. The officials of the Soviet Communist Party were also involved, as were officials of the Soviet government. The coup failed because, contrary to Comintern beliefs, the Estonian population, including the working class, did not support the thesis of "World Revolution". [Extract, p. 56]
