ABSTRACT
Understanding the links between national security and the minority issue comes only gradually. It is only very slowly being realised how difficult it could be for the West to give full security guarantees to countries where any foreign threat is likely to be closely linked to a domestic situation. An earnest and substantial effort also increases the chances for small states to gain security guarantees from foreign states, in the case of the Baltic States: from the West. Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion is being realised due to the foreign involvement and drive given to support the original Baltic idea. The lack of well equipped military forces in the Baltic states has made the start very difficult. The Baltic States need assistance in living up to the decision in principle to procure and maintain equipment together, with states like Denmark, which does not produce weapons or trucks itself assisting during project planning, negotiations.
