WASHINGTON (AP) — On Friday, some Baltic defense leaders said they have not received official notifications as chaos over the Trump administration’s plans are set to halt security support funds to European countries along the border with Russia.
According to people familiar with the discussion and council aides, the Pentagon funding for a program that provides training and equipment to enhance security spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue. It could be hundreds of millions of dollars, but it was not clear how much money would be affected.
It includes funding based on Section 333 and the Baltic Sea Security Initiative. Country on the east side of NATO – Includes US systems – Ammunition, special forces training, information support.
A White House official, who was not allowed to speak publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity, saying the lawsuit is coordinated with European countries and is part of President Donald Trump’s plan to “ensure that Europe has more responsibility for its own defense.”
The Trump administration has it I pushed NATO countries They strengthened their defensive spending and reduced foreign aid across the board. As Trump remakes America’s approach to foreign policy, allies have tried to decipher the often dark proposals, from tariffs to military numbers. It was not clear whether US lawmakers would approve some of the cuts that were inconsistent with the latest allocation of the Pentagon, notified Congress, Congressional aides said.
The Baltic countries have expressed confusion and concern
Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsberghis said that reducing US military support for the Baltic countries (part of NATO’s border with Russia) “will only undermine the credibility of NATO’s attempts to deter NATO.” The Moscow War in Ukraine Drag.
Vaidotas Urbelis, policy director for Lithuania’s Ministry of Defense, said that despite “discussion and specific signs” from the US, the country had not received official information about cuts in support and had spoken to the Pentagon about “which programs will continue and may be postponed.”
Latvian Defense Ministry also said it had not received a “official notice of concrete decisions” and would continue its discussion regarding reaffirming the importance of support.
In a statement, the Estonian Ministry of Defense clearly states that “the current administration’s direction is to significantly reduce foreign aid,” but added that as Estonia has increased its own spending, US aid will increasingly constitute supplementing the country’s defense budget.
The three Baltic countries and Poland are the NATO countries that spend the most on defense, promising to spend 5% of their gross domestic product from 2026.
Members of the council are also in the dark
The Congressional office also awaited details on which programs will be cut under the Pentagon proposal on Friday, but lawmakers from both parties who support the US support have supported support for the region.
Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican who will be retiring next year, said on social media it would be a “disastrous and shameful decision.”
“This administration is weak towards Putin and the weak leader of the free world,” he added. “This will be read as an ugly chapter in American history if the president doesn’t reverse the course.”
“This is a false move that pushes Putin to the negotiation table and sends exactly the wrong signal when trying to stop the Russian attack,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement.
Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, has worked with Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley to propose that Congress’s annual defense approval bill would include a language that codifies the Baltic Sea Treatment Initiative, which established military cooperation between the United States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The Pentagon reviewed its foreign aid program under Trump’s order, saying it was “clear to argue that allies and partners must take greater responsibility for funding their security.”
Plans to cut security funds were first reported by the Financial Times.
Where will the funds go?
Estonian Ministry of Defense said the initiative allocated around $377 million between 2018 and 2024. This helped fund the purchase of key features from Estonia, including the US-made Himars Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems.
Section 333 funding from the Department of Defense was also affected from 2018 to 2022, according to the Government’s Accountability Office.
However, State Department funding to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia has not yet been affected. It provides approximately $7 billion in military aid annually to the Baltic countries, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity for the sensitivity of the issue.
The Estonian Ministry of Defense suggested that cuts in funding must be approved by Congress.
Helga Calm, deputy director of the Tallinn International Defence Security Centre in Estonia, said, “Even though the Pentagon had said he was “not a huge fan of it,” Congress previously included the Baltic security initiative in its budget.”
It’s too much to know if the funds will be withdrawn “too early”,” she said.
The Baltic countries are now strengthening their defensive spending and working extensively, so if it is reduced, “it won’t be the end of the world,” Callum said.
The move came as military training to train US military personnel, quickly deploying forces, preparing operations on the eastern flanks of NATO, launched in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland on Friday.
Trump’s NATO ambassador said earlier this year that the US would begin debate at the end of the year about reducing European troops, but the proposal has not progressed. Trump suggested he could send on Thursday “More” Army to Poland.
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Burrows reported from London. Authors of Associated Press in Washington Chris Megarian and Matthew Lee, Ludas Dapkas of Villinus in Lithuania, Sam McNeill of Brussels in Belgium, and Jamie Kieten of Geneva in Switzerland contributed to the report.
