Soviet Foreign Policy Toward The Baltic States(1917-1945)

The development of the relationship between the Soviet Union and the BalticStates, during1917-1945, roughly went through three stages—the independence ofthe three States, the peaceful coexistence of the two sides, and the annexation of thethree States by the Soviet Union. The soviet foreign policy toward the Baltic Stateshad also witnessed three stages of historical development, stretching from theprinciple of “peace at any price” proclaimed by Lenin, further non-aggression treatiessigned by all three Baltic States to the soviet occupation of the Baltic peoples. UnderLenin, the Soviet Union established equal diplomatic relations with the three BalticStates, followed by signing The Pacts of Mutual Assistance which gave the Sovietsthe rights to establish military based in the territory of the three countries with the riseof fascist forces in Europe. The breakout of the World War II and the constantvictories led to the annexation of the Baltic States by the Soviet Union. The practiceof Stalin’s national security concept reflected the concept of Soviet power chauvinismand power politics.Comprehensive factors contributed to different attitudes of the Soviet foreignpolicy toward the Baltic States during this period. The changing pattern of theEuropean security, and the Germanys rejuvenation and fascist forces gave rise to thepreventive security policy of the Soviet Union which constantly infringes thesovereignty of the Baltic peoples to the final annexation. The historical tradition of theRussian’s encroachment and its covet for the Baltic Sea were driven by the nationaldeep-seated culture and interests. In the process of the invasion, the implementation ofChauvinism and Stalin’s national security concept reflected the idea of great powerpolicy.The early days of the Soviets’ peaceful diplomacy proved to be a successfulexperience of foreign communication for socialist countries and the strategy of mutualassistance based on the principle of voluntary aid and abet in the1930s demonstratedto be absolutely indispensable. Unfortunately, the unscrupulous aggression wasnotoriously unfolded in its ferocious annexation of the Baltic States and theestablishment of the Eastern Front policy, with an undesirable series of consequences.Not only it damaged the images of the Soviet socialist countries, but also failed to actas proper safety buffer. The traumatic lessons the Soviet Union drew from the pastforeign policies toward the Baltic States definitely deserved the great attention tomediate on as to handling the relationships in today’s international affairs.