Knowra Baltic states Baltic states The Baltic states are Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three northeastern European countries on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. They share a history of foreign rule and regained independence in 1991.
Estonian War of Independence : The 1918–1920 conflict in which Estonia secured independence from Soviet Russia and German forces. It established Estonia as an independent state after the First World War.
Baltic Assembly : An interparliamentary cooperation body established by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 1991. It gives the three states a forum for coordinating parliamentary policy.
Estonian language : A Finnic language spoken primarily in Estonia. Its distinct linguistic lineage sets Estonian national identity apart from the neighboring Baltic languages.
Nordic countries : Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, often grouped by shared historical and institutional ties. Estonia is sometimes associated with Nordic Europe, but the Baltic states form a distinct political grouping.
Latvian War of Independence : The 1918–1920 conflict in which Latvia fought to establish and defend its independence. It shaped Latvia’s first period of sovereign statehood.
Baltic Council of Ministers : An institution for intergovernmental cooperation among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It coordinates work by the three national governments.
Latvian language : An Eastern Baltic language spoken primarily in Latvia. It is a central marker of Latvia’s national culture and identity.
Baltic peoples : The ethnic groups traditionally speaking Baltic languages, chiefly Lithuanians and Latvians. The ethnolinguistic label excludes Estonians, though Estonia belongs to the Baltic states geographically and politically.
Lithuanian Wars of Independence : The conflicts in which Lithuania established its independence after the First World War. They secured the third state in the modern Baltic grouping.
Baltic states' accession to the European Union : The 2004 entry of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the European Union. EU membership anchors their shared integration while preserving separate national governments.
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