Nordics and Baltics to share diplomatic missions

[Hevneren]

Why was Estonia categorised with other Baltic countries? I thought Estonia was a Nordic country? I'm confused.

Estonia has never been considered Nordic, and until the end of WWII neither was Finland. Not to insult our good Finnish neighbours, but I personally believe that if Finland is to be considered Nordic, there's no reason why Estonia can't be, given the close linguistic and ethnic bond between the two nations. Estonia has also proven itself to be quite capable in creating economic growth as well, and is well on its way to reach Western European standards.

That being said, who is or isn't Nordic is a slippery slope argument, and if we are to start considering Estonia (and Finland) Nordic, we might as well consider Latvia and Lithuania Nordic. But then there's the little Russian enclave Kaliningrad squeezed between the Baltic states, and if the Baltic states are Nordic, then technically Russia (via Kaleningrad) could be labeled Nordic.

[Johnston]

Estonia has never been considered Nordic, and until the end of WWII neither was Finland. Not to insult our good Finnish neighbours, but I personally believe that if Finland is to be considered Nordic, there's no reason why Estonia can't be, given the close linguistic and ethnic bond between the two nations. Estonia has also proven itself to be quite capable in creating economic growth as well, and is well on its way to reach Western European standards.

That being said, who is or isn't Nordic is a slippery slope argument, and if we are to start considering Estonia (and Finland) Nordic, we might as well consider Latvia and Lithuania Nordic. But then there's the little Russian enclave Kaliningrad squeezed between the Baltic states, and if the Baltic states are Nordic, then technically Russia (via Kaleningrad) could be labeled Nordic.

Everybody in the basin is Baltic!

[Waidewut]

But then there's the little Russian enclave Kaliningrad squeezed between the Baltic states, and if the Baltic states are Nordic, then technically Russia (via Kaleningrad) could be labeled Nordic.

Wheres the logic to this statement? Nordic is clearly a cultural term, not geographical. And since Russians started to live in Kaliningrad only 60 years ago, I doubt that their culture differs from the Russians living in Russia ''proper'' .

[Johnston]

Wheres the logic to this statement? Nordic is clearly a cultural term, not geographical. And since Russians started to live in Kaliningrad only 60 years ago, I doubt that their culture differs from the Russians living in Russia ''proper'' .

Other than political schisms, I cannot see why Latvia and Lithuania do not have a deep cooperation, the same for Finland and Estonia, Belarus and Russia, Sweden and Denmark, Norway and Iceland, etc.

[The Ripper]

Estonia has never been considered Nordic, and until the end of WWII neither was Finland.

Anyone who has been resident here on this forum for over a month knows this debate. I hope we don't have to repeat it once more. Dusan-Dusan was just trolling, trying to provoke Karl, one of his favourite hobbies.

Not to insult our good Finnish neighbours, but I personally believe that if Finland is to be considered Nordic, there's no reason why Estonia can't be, given the close linguistic and ethnic bond between the two nations.

Why would we be insulted? This exactly is Karl's argument. If Finland, then also Estonia.

Estonia has also proven itself to be quite capable in creating economic growth as well, and is well on its way to reach Western European standards.

Its politics and economics are however quite "un-Nordic," which is understandable given its history, but still. Actually, the Nordic countries are likely to become economically more like Estonia than vice versa in the future, is my guess.

That being said, who is or isn't Nordic is a slippery slope argument, and if we are to start considering Estonia (and Finland) Nordic, we might as well consider Latvia and Lithuania Nordic. But then there's the little Russian enclave Kaliningrad squeezed between the Baltic states, and if the Baltic states are Nordic, then technically Russia (via Kaleningrad) could be labeled Nordic.

Yes. Let's use one of the million existing threads on this topic to tread this slippery slope.

[Waidewut]

Other than political schisms, I cannot see why Latvia and Lithuania do not have a deep cooperation, the same for Finland and Estonia, Belarus and Russia, Sweden and Denmark, Norway and Iceland, etc.

What kind of cooperation did you mean exactly? Maybe its because most of Latvians differ from the Lithuanians culturally. I mean most of Latvians were peasants for North German landowners for 700 years, thus the North German culture has a really big impact on the Latvian one. While Lithuanians have no such influence. Although Latvians from the Latgale region have a huge Polish-Lithuanian influence, because the landowners were mostly Polish there.

[The Ripper]

What kind of cooperation did you mean exactly? Maybe its because most of Latvians differ from the Lithuanians culturally. I mean most of Latvians were peasants for North German landowners for 700 years, thus the North German culture has a really big impact on the Latvian one. While Lithuanians have no such influence. Although Latvians from the Latgale region have a huge Polish-Lithuanian influence, because the landowners were mostly Polish there.

I think all kinds of co-operation would be good between our countries. Especially in a post-EU period.