Expert: Latvia's hesitation on Rail Baltica could become biggest Baltic cooperation failure in a century
If Latvia fails to advance the Rail Baltica project, Estonia may seek a sea transport alternative, and the project's failure would be the biggest Baltic cooperation failure in the last 100 years.
The Rail Baltica railway project is not just about infrastructure; it is a decisive moment for the Baltic states to become part of European economic and transport corridors rather than remain on the periphery. According to experts, the problem lies not in Brussels, Tallinn, or Vilnius, but in Riga—a lack of political will threatens the project's implementation.
If Latvia chooses to stay on the periphery, it will not be alone—the entire region will be marginalized. Estonia alone cannot build a corridor to Europe, Lithuania alone cannot connect the Baltics with Poland and Central Europe, and Poland alone cannot make the Baltics a natural part of the European rail network. If Latvia, which is at the center of the corridor, hesitates, it will mean stagnation for the entire Baltic economic space.
Historical examples, such as Estonia's help to Latvia during the War of Independence and the Baltic Way, show that joint efforts are based on a broader understanding—the Baltic states are stronger together. Rail Baltica is not the Baltic Way, but the principle is similar: at strategic moments, the countries cannot think only of themselves. If the backbone breaks in the middle, we all become weaker.
