Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium

In 2004 Estonia and six other countries were granted membership to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).  This historic accomplishment followed remarkable efforts beginning in the early 1990s by the three newly free and independent Baltic States.  By directing their domestic and foreign policy, as well as actively engaging in public diplomacy, they achieved this objective.  Estonia’s dedication to democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all people helped cement its partnership with the United States.  Prior to that, the U.S. support for Estonia and her Baltic neighbors within the U.S. administration and in Congress was embodied in the U.S.-Baltic Charter of 1998.  Despite sustained opposition from Moscow, and fears by some on both sides of the Atlantic of Russia’s opposition to the Baltic States joining NATO, they succeeded.  Estonia’s public diplomacy efforts to mobilize the Estonian-American community played an important role in this effort.  Since independence, Estonia has been dedicated to western values and prosperity.  This program is dedicated to the strong diplomatic ties between Estonia and the United States as well as the lessons that can be learned today from the successful campaign of Estonia to join NATO.