Abstract. In the international field, the Baltic states currently elicit basic associations with an anti-Russian irritant, which generally reflects rather foreign than national interests of these countries. However, slogans declaring their independence at the end of 90ies included the goal of giving them maximum political and economic freedom, and were not accomplished. Moreover, they got the polar opposite meaning. As a result, the foreign policy of the Baltic states is subordinated to NATO’s strategic direction. Economic development depends on the Nordic countries. The behavior of the Baltic states in the region has one-vector appearance. The development of their economies is increasingly lopsided. All of the above is aimed at their artificial fencing off Russia. The brunt of that stereotype development implementation falls on the population, whose socio-economic status demonstrates a strong downtrend. In general, a comparison between the Baltic states’ position within the USSR and its current condition tells against their strategy development and their leaders.