you know the point TDM....the big nuclear armed states have geo-political spheres of influence...if you think little Latvia should have US ( and lets be clear, NATO today is an extension of US foreign policy ) led forces on it's soil " to protect Latvia" from Russia, , then you should have had no problem with Cuba having Russian forces on it's soil in 62, to protect Cuba from the US...

when Gorbachev agreed to the reunification of Germany, the US fully indicated that NATO would not expand eastward...NATO up against Russian soil is a provocation and threat that is the equivalent of Mexico inviting China to build an airbase and station Chinese troops in Tijuana

that's realpolitik Thomas...and here's another thing...I don't believe for a second that you would willingly die to protect Latvian security under Article 5