President Joe Biden has routinely defended his decisions to withhold certain economic sanctions against Russia, and to withhold sending categories of weapons to Ukraine, out of his desire to keep NATO together. That typically means deferring to the most hesitant and wealthiest NATO member, Germany, always hoping for a Putin change of heart and the possibility of Russian rapprochement that never comes. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has shown his ambitions include other formerly occupied nations, beginning with the Baltic countries. Rather than continue deferring to Germany’s preferences, the Biden administration should instead fully back the NATO members that have shown the most credible determination to eschew dependency on Russia, empower Ukraine, and deter further Russian aggression.

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia joining NATO. These Eastern flank nations, Lithuania in particular, have shown the willingness and capability to take on a larger role in the alliance. When former President Donald Trump began to press NATO allies to contribute more to their self-defense, Lithuania responded with a vigorous defense spending increase. Lithuania spent 0.9% of its GDP on defense in 2014. In 2023, it will reach 2.52%.