In early September, sources reported the sobering news that the Trump administration intended to halt established United States security assistance programs with allies and partners, including those for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
As Noah Robertson wrote in The Washington Post on September 4, 2025: “Among the programs to be suspended is the Baltic Security Initiative, an effort to reinforce those three nations with money for military infrastructure and training. Within NATO, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia spend among the most of their GDP on defense, but they have relatively small economies, making U.S. funding highly important to them.”
The Post article quotes Lauren Speranza, a former adviser to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and now a fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis, who said that “The money is a symbolic show of support for those countries’ defense, […] while also protecting against the possibility of a Russian attack.”
In his September 15 review on the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI), Markuss Kozlinskis of JBANC wrote that this U.S. security assistance program aims to (1) close military gaps in the defensive capabilities of the Baltic states’ region, as identified by the U.S. government, and to (2) increase interoperability among allies in the region.
Among the potentially suspended programs that would be affected within the BSI are existing capability projects in the Baltics, such as Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Cyber Defense, and Resilience to Hybrid Attacks.
While the BSI program began in 2018, over the past three years, the U.S. Congress has appropriated $231 million (FY25), $228 million (FY24), and $225 million (FY23) for the initiative. Current funding remains available until October 2026, but funding for the next fiscal year remains on hold due to the impasse and the current government shutdown.
Despite this news, the Baltic states have remained cautiously optimistic about continued U.S. security assistance. On the contrary, they are not just idly standing by until this gets resolved, but are ramping up their own resources and purchasing power.
Lithuanian Defense Ministry Policy Director Vaidotas Urbelis underlined that Vilnius remains in close contact with Washington and that the practical outcome will only be clear once Congress adopts the budget and the President signs it.
In response to the possible cuts, writes Kozlinskis, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur underscored that the final decision on the matter ultimately rests with the U.S. Congress, which has traditionally supported the Baltics. Pevkur also notes that U.S. military assistance has significantly strengthened Estonia’s capabilities – enabling the procurement of systems such as HIMARS and Javelins. However, due to the Estonian commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defense from 2026 to 2029, the minister states that U.S. military aid now carries symbolic rather than decisive value.
Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braže spoke on the phone with U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio on September 8 about the matter and to discuss defense industry cooperation, highlighting the importance of the U.S.-Latvia relationship for regional stability. Braže and Rubio also met in person on September 25 during UN General Assembly week in New York. As Braže has stressed, the reports of cuts were not an official communication from the U.S. government, but rather media leaks. She emphasized that while U.S. defense funding is under review, Congress continues to show strong support for continuing the BSI.
The question now remains: when will the appropriations bill pass, and how much funding will it include, and will Congress codify the BSI in its National Defense Authorization Act?
There are positive developments. JBANC confirms that there is widespread and deep support in the U.S. Congress for U.S.-Baltic relations and for the BSI. In addition, the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee (SAC-D) has included $225 million towards BSI with a further $35 million for air and missile defense for FY26. Furthermore, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has moved to authorize the BSI as an amendment in the NDAA.
The BSI has never been a one-sided benefit. While it strengthens Baltic defenses, it also delivers clear and direct advantages to America. During meetings on Capitol Hill, JBANC consistently highlights three compelling reasons why BSI serves U.S. national interests:
By supporting BSI, the U.S. can help strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and support American jobs and manufacturing. The funding is managed by the government in coordination with military specialists at EUCOM, who identify specific defense gaps. Procurements are then made through American defense companies, meaning the funds remain in the U.S. economy while enhancing allied capabilities abroad.
Moreover, the initiative also directly advances U.S. national security by strengthening deterrence against Russian aggression. By helping the Baltic states bolster their defenses now, the U.S. reduces the likelihood of a direct military confrontation that could trigger Article 5, requiring a response by American troops. In short, investing in prevention today is both strategic and significantly less costly, both in terms of lives and resources, than responding to a crisis later.
Top U.S. officials, including Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have stated that the Baltic states are model allies. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania invest heavily in their own defense, consistently support NATO operations, host U.S. forces, and offer advanced infrastructure, training environments, and strategic expertise. To boot, the Baltics are among Ukraine’s strongest supporters by share of GDP, with active contributions from both governments and civil societies. Their role in European security is key.
These arguments are central to policy discussions in Washington and can also serve as key talking points for Baltic Americans when reaching out to their elected officials. For a more detailed set of talking points and background information on U.S.-Baltic relations, JBANC can provide a full advocacy guide upon request.
Karl Altau, JBANC
