1991   The United States that had never recognized the occupation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania by the Soviet Union recognizes the independence of the three Baltic states.

2004   Seven nations are allowed to join NATO including Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia into the organization

2004   Ten nations are added to the European Union including Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus. The expansion is the largest expansion to date.