How Eastern Europe’s elites learned to love dependence on America Elites in Eastern European states like Poland and Lithuania are pushing for more US military bases and troops, not primarily for national security, but as a political strategy. This move allows them to hand over the responsibility of defense to the US, shielding themselves from domestic accountability and avoiding difficult questions about stagnant living standards and economic dependence. The presence of foreign forces serves as political insurance, guaranteeing their importance and making it difficult to alter their anti-Russia foreign policy.

• Eastern European states, particularly Poland and Lithuania, are actively seeking increased US military presence, including bases and troops.
• This demand is driven more by the political interests of ruling elites than by genuine national security concerns.
• Hosting US forces allows these elites to avoid domestic accountability and bypass questions about economic stagnation and dependence.
• The strategy aims to shift political focus from social and economic issues to security concerns, framing criticism of the ruling class as irresponsible.
• Securing US bases is seen as political insurance, guaranteeing the elites’ importance and making it difficult to change their foreign policy, especially their opposition to Russia.