Lawmakers from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have urged the US Congress to preserve funding for the Baltic Security Initiative, warning that President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget proposal puts both the programme and regional security at risk.
In a joint letter signed by 36 MPs, the lawmakers thanked Washington for years of security assistance, stating that this support has evolved into a “robust” partnership. They also said the funding has helped strengthen defence efforts and modernise military systems across the Baltic states.
“We were together with you in Iraq and Afghanistan, we stand by Taiwan, Israel and the democratic opposition in Cuba, we resist autocracies in Belarus and Russia, we fight alongside you for freedom, democracy, peace worldwide,” the MPs said in the letter.
The appeal follows US President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget proposal, which included no request for funding under Section 333 funding, allocated for military training and security aid abroad. Congress will decide whether to restore the money, which amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars for the Baltic states.
“We have long spent above NATO’s minimum threshold for defence spending,” the MPs said. “We will continue enhancing our national resilience and civil preparedness, and we will further invest in host-nation support for US forces stationed in our country.”
The MPs also recognised the “strong and successful ongoing military cooperation” between the Baltic states and the US, saying it benefits NATO and is instrumental in defending Europe’s security.
The potential cuts come as Washington urges Europeans to take greater responsibility for their own security. At a NATO summit in June, European allies pledged to increase defence spending to at least 5% of GDP – a target the Baltics say they will surpass next year.
Baltics face uncertainty over US defence aid as Congress weighs cuts
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are awaiting a decision from the US Congress that could end…
3 minutes
(cp, de)
