If they don't value their freedom enough to sacrifice their young men for it, why should we sacrifice ours? Do I think Russian revanchism and irredentism are a danger to global security? Sure. But wars have costs. That our military dependents in the Baltic states want to use us as their defense of first resort means we bear most of the costs. Maybe I'm being unreasonable, but it seems to me that since their freedom is the main item under threat, maybe they should bear a big portion of the burden of preparing for war, including spending more than 1% to 2% of their GDP on defense. We spend 4.4% and it's not like we have strong and dangerous neighbors on our borders.
The Estonian FM have said they need to spend more on defense. Let’s see if they do it.
They still joke in the Baltics about Homo Sovieticus. There is an older generation that is nostalgic for Soviet times. Few want to be a martyr in that part of the world these days. It’s similar to the Chicoms with their new material wealth I suppose. Facing the Russian bear there is a fatalism. “We are a small country, why fight?” Any doubts about NATO is enough to break them, I believe.
Just don’t try to take away their smart phones. That would be a fight!