This professor’s letter to the FT correcting the way it refers to the Baltic states is a brilliantly written big-brained treat

Latest in an increasingly occasional series, newspaper letter of the day, week and very possibly the year is this one, shared over on Twitter by its author, Branislav Slantchev.

Branislav, you see, is an international relations expert and Professor of Political Science at the University of California in San Diego.

And he’s got beef with the way the Financial Times refers to the Baltic states. And it’s a proper big-brained treat.

What do you know, @FT went ahead and published my little letter to the editor. pic.twitter.com/2bq9jtz74F

— Branislav Slantchev (@slantchev) January 28, 2026

Here it is again, just in case that’s tricky to read in full.

Well played, that man!

Thank you SO MUCH from Latvia 🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻

— Liāna Langa 🇱🇻 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@liana_langa) January 28, 2026

Russia, also known as the “former Golden Horde vassal”

— David Payne (@DavusPayne) January 28, 2026

I wonder, why the UK is not constantly referred to as a “former EU member state” – as it was one until as recently as January 2020?

— Alexander Kokcharov (@alex_kokcharov) January 29, 2026

An excellent riposte

— Dr Peter Caddick-Adams #StandwithUkraine (@militaryhistori) January 28, 2026

Much respect and thank you from one of the Balts.

— Fella_42 (@Pauls42) January 28, 2026

To conclude …

Nicely done, @slantchev. pic.twitter.com/snCS45v4iU

— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) January 29, 2026

Source @slantchev