The Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) has launched a new online platform “The Baltic Journey to NATO: Exploring the role of civil society, diaspora, governments, and media, which highlights the milestones of the events that led to a successful NATO enlargement and membership for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.”

The project is supported by a NATO Public Diplomacy Division grant. The site is accessible at: https://jbanc.org/nato.

The exhibit features a timeline of key dates and events that led to the Baltic inclusion into NATO in 2004 and explores a variety of decisions made by the Baltic and the U.S. governments.

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Published: February 07 2021

The largest project for Estonians abroad in more than a generation is set to break ground this February.

The new Estonian Centre (to be located at 9 and 11 Madison Avenue in downtown Toronto) will consolidate the largest Estonian community in Canada.

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Published: February 07 2021

On 4. veebruar, also known as hundi/kuu, wolf month, (Estonia's rahvus/loom, national animal), the Estonian Weather Service's lume/kaart (snow map) showed Tallinn as having 30 cm on the ground. This never happens in one huge (s)torm à la nor'easters on the Eastern seaboard, but has accumulated steadfastly as mere/efekti (sea effect) snow over the course of many weeks of sub-zero weather, set to continue. It's nature's gift to kids and winter sports lovers of all ages in an otherwise compromised time.   Foto: Ülle Mesikäpp

"Laud on kaetud!" writes jewelry artist Ülle Mesikäpp from her home in the Tallinn suburb of Nõmme. Katma lauda = to set the table in preparation for a meal and when the laud is kaetud, you're welcome to take a seat (asuma lauda, võtma istet). Katma is also simply to cover. This table is covered. With snow. And set. (Ready, set, go! = Tähelepanu, valmis olla, läks!)

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Published: February 07 2021

Foreign Minister Liimets: We Demand the Immediate Release of Navalny

Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets denounced Russia's behavior and demands the immediate release of Alexei Navalny.

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Published: February 07 2021

JBANC is calling on Baltic Americans to join us in welcoming the new Congress and letting them know about the issues that matter to us! 

Baltic Advocacy Days 2021 will take place virtually March 8-12 and requires registration by February 15th. 

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Published: January 30 2021

On his first full day in office, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a message for Estonia and new Prime Minister Kaja Kallas:

Congatulations, Kaja Kallas, on making history as Estonia’s first female Prime Minister.

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Published: January 30 2021

Estonia has joined its Baltic neighbors Latvia and Lithuania in a bid to secure €1.4 billion in European Union funds towards the Rail Baltica high-speed rail link, U.S. politics media site Politico reports, even if that entails blocking the launch of a €750-billion recovery fund, following a European Parliament move opposed to earmarking funds for either any particular project, or any specific countries or regions.

In an attempt to guarantee the €1.4 billion support, Politico reports, the three countries say they may hold up a critical stage required to launch the bloc's €750-billion recovery fund, aimed at mitigating the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, and mirroring earlier blocking tactics in Hungary and Poland which saw a dispute over rule-of-law provisions last for about a month.

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Published: January 30 2021

Coalition Government of Reform Party and Center Party Took Office

On January 26, the new Estonian government took office, led by the head of the Reform Party, Kaja Kallas, as Prime Minister. In addition to the Prime Minister, there are 14 ministers in the government and the Reform and Centre Parties have seven portfolios each.

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Published: January 30 2021