The Vote I Wish I Could Cast for Democracy
I am a citizen of Lithuania, a small country most Americans have never heard of. While I cannot vote in the November presidential election, if I could, I would cast my vote based on my desire to live in a world where trust among allies and respect for democratic principles continues to be at the core of our everyday lives.
I grew up in the communist-era Lithuania under Russian occupation, and I know too well about the lack of trust that ruled the Soviet Union. “Divide and conquer” was the Soviet’s primary tactic and the lack of trust, confidence, and belief in the communist ideals led to the end of the Soviet occupation in the early 1990s. Since then, many Central and Eastern European nations have set forth to rejoin the democratic community of nations — a world where they could trust their neighbors and believe in their future. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is one of the leading organizations of this democratic world. To this day, confidence in the principle of “all for one and one for all” is what attracts NATO’s members to be a part of the alliance — and it is trust in NATO member commitments that continues to hold the alliance together as a basis for global security.
Donald Trump questioned this underlying trust, when he spoke about redefining what a NATO partnership with the United States would look like under his presidency. Trump’s desire to make U.S. military support of NATO allies conditional based upon a review of member financial contributions is an extremely dangerous precedent. As a Lithuanian, it was a stunning admission by a U.S. presidential candidate. Trump’s position sent shock waves across Europe: Can we continue to trust in our shared values, in NATO, and the commitments of the United States?
Only those who don’t know the lessons of recent history can say they are willing to revise NATO, the very treaty that is the best guarantor of lasting peace in Europe. It is opening the door for President Vladimir Putin of Russia to proceed with correcting the fall of the Soviet Union, which he has called “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” Today, when Putin is advancing his aggressive agenda in Ukraine and consistently violating the borders of his European neighbors, decision makers across the world should carefully consider putting into question the very treaties that have guaranteed stability in Europe for decades.
To crassly question any security agreement is a major geopolitical mistake, especially one as critical to international security as NATO. In the current geopolitical environment where post-Cold War enthusiasm has been replaced by the aggressiveness of Putin’s Russia, we cannot take for granted the very security that allowed Central and Eastern European countries to return to democracy. America cannot waiver in its support of NATO’s mutual defense. Hillary Clinton understands this and has articulated that NATO was “one of the best investments America has ever made.”
For this reason alone, I would vote for Hillary Clinton. Under Secretary Clinton’s leadership, the Soviet-like occupation of several parts of Europe, ensuing deportations and the deaths of millions of Poles, Czechs, Lithuanians, and others from across Europe in the gulags of Siberia will never be repeated.
Today, Putin is making every effort to divide Europe. In doing so, Putin is impacting the safety and security of America and Americans as well. For years, America and Europe have stood together for the same democratic values. Today we must continue to stand together in the face of immense and complicated challenges across the globe. For these reasons, #ImWithHer.
Erika is an international affairs and international development professional. She has served as national security adviser to the Speaker of Parliament and the Acting President of Lithuania during the most crucial times for her country building successful multi-stakeholder networks to advance Lithuania’s European Union and NATO membership. In 2004, President of Lithuania awarded her The Cross of Officer of the Order “For Services to Lithuania.” Fluent in English, Lithuanian and Russian, most recently Erika managed a global gender integration and gender equality program for a major U.S. non-governmental organization. In 2014, Erika was featured as the Top Global Woman by Diplomatic Courier.
