The Baltics: Living with the Bear
"The Baltics: Living with the Bear" — A virtual panel discussion
Panelists
- Ambassador Anne Hall, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Lithuania
- Ambassador James Melville, Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia
Moderator
- Ambassador Michael C. Polt, ASU Leadership, Diplomacy & National Security Lab
Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, noon MST | 2 p.m. EST
The three Baltic nations — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — have proud histories as rich and independent cultures. Incorporated into the Soviet Union at the start of World War II, they regained their independence as the Cold War and Soviet era came to an end in 1989-91.
The three nations have sought to rebuild dynamic and democratic societies that are integrated with Western Europe but face regular political, economic and military threats from an increasingly hostile Russian neighbor.
Ambassadors Hall, Melville and Polt have extensive recent experience in the Baltic region and will give us a first-hand flavor of what it means to live under constant Russian pressure.
Continuing Russian cyberattacks, Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea (with no Western push back), ongoing issues with Latvia’s ethnic Russians, and even the recent hurried US departure from Afghanistan are a few examples of major Baltic region worries and discussion topics at the November 10 program.
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Ambassador Anne Hall, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Lithuania
Anne Hall is a retired U.S. Ambassador and career diplomat with 32 years of experience with the Department of State in Europe, Asia and Latin America. As the Ambassador to Lithuania from 2016-2019, Hall led a multiagency team focused on strengthening Baltic defense and security.
Ambassador James D. Melville, Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to Republic of Estonia
Jim Melville was a U.S. Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State for over 33 years, retiring in the autumn of 2018 after serving as U.S. Ambassador to Estonia. Highlights of his career include serving as Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) in Germany, Minister Counselor and often Chargé d'affaires (CDA) in Berlin, London and Moscow.
Ambassador Michael C. Polt, Ambassador-in-Residence, ASU's Leadership, Diplomacy & National Security Lab
Michael Polt assumed his new position as ASU Ambassador-in- Residence in The College's Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab on Oct. 1, 2020. Prior to that, he had served as Senior Director at the University's McCain Institute for International Leadership after concluding his 35-year diplomatic career in 2012. The Ambassador held assignments as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia and to Serbia and Montenegro.
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