International

The 8th New York Baltic Film Festival returns to Scandinavia House (58 Park Avenue, NYC) from November 5–9, 2025, with a U.S. virtual program running November 10–16. The festival plays a vital role in bringing the voices of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to an international audience. As the leading Baltic...

In late 2021, I made a shocking discovery: My local Syrian baklava shop in Providence, Rhode Island had a Latvian Auseklis motif in its logo. As a Latvian-Estonian-American, I had to investigate. I walked into the store, ordered some baklava, and asked staff behind the counter: “What star is this?”...

In the war Russia wages against Ukraine, we primarily see kinetic forms of warfare. These are the tangible horrors of bombs, missiles, and rockets exploding against civilian centers, ordinance dropped by drones onto military vehicles from above, and sometimes the terrible trench warfare that persists on the frontlines. There are...

Rein Deaton is a young professional in the field of art, who has taken on a heartfelt mission: creating rahvariided (traditional clothing) for the Estonian-American community. The idea of having unique skirts and blouses to represent local communities sends shivers down the spine for many. The project started with Rein...

Washington – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, along with U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Co-Chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) met with ambassadors to the U.S. from various...

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna's year-end address to Estonians around the world The world is going through a difficult time. Living far away from home during critical times is sure to stir various feelings but let us keep our heads clear and hearts warm. In Europe, Ukrainians have been fighting...

Along the many pathways to freedom that started with the mass flight from Estonia 80 years ago, our stories evolve to this day. You can engrave that story right into the heart of North America's 4th largest city, at KESKUS: Estonian Arts Centre presents the Pathway to Freedom paver stone...

2024 was a busy year for advocacy on the U.S.-Baltic front. 2025 will continue to be so. In the U.S. Congress, a sign of success is the fast-growing interest in the Baltic Caucus, as both House and Senate Caucuses increased exponentially. 34 new House members joined in 2023-2024 during the...

On August 23, the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC), the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, the embassies of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and about 100 participants gathered on McPherson Square outside the Victims of Communism Museum in Washington, DC, to celebrate 35 years since the Baltic Way, and to...

In a recent radio interview on Vikerraadio's "Vikerhommik," cultural historian and folklorist Marju Kõivupuu acknowledged that keeping Estonian culture and identity alive abroad demands motivation and determination. Kõivupuu said she has a lot of respect for those who keep the Estonian language and culture alive living beyond Estonia's own borders....