Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

Definition

These are three countries located on eastern coast of Baltic Sea. Formerly part of USSR, they regained independence during breakup of Soviet Union.

Analogy

Imagine these three countries as siblings who were adopted by a strict family (the USSR), but eventually managed to move out on their own when they came-of-age (gained independence).

Related terms

Baltic States: The term used for grouping together Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Warsaw Pact: A collective defense treaty among eight communist states during Cold War led by USSR; Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania were part this pact while under control by USSR.

Iron Curtain: Notional barrier separating former soviet bloc & west prior to decline communism that followed political events in eastern Europe in 1989.