US cuts military aid programs for Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
The United States intends to gradually curtail military assistance programs for Eastern European countries bordering Russia. Thus, Washington wants to push the states of the continent to invest more in their own defense. Previously, the recipients of these funds were mainly Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Europe reacted to this step with concern and is now trying to get additional explanations from the United States.
Last week, Pentagon officials informed European diplomats that the United States was ending funding for a program to train and equip armed forces in Eastern European countries that would be on the front line in the event of a conflict with Russia. This is reported by the Financial Times (FT) newspaper, citing its own sources.
According to the publication, spending on defense programs must be approved by the US Congress, but the administration of Donald Trump has not requested new funds for these purposes. Previously approved funds will be available until the end of September 2026.
In addition, his "long-standing desire for Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense" played an important role.
Indeed, Trump has spoken out on this topic many times. Last summer, at the NATO summit in The Hague, he was able to get the participating countries to decide to increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP.
According to FT, the total budget of the program being cut exceeded $1 billion, and now the recipient countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - are likely to miss out on military aid by hundreds of millions. The Pentagon does not disclose specific amounts. According to a European official who attended the meeting where the cuts were announced, "this step was intended to encourage richer European countries to allocate more funds to ensure the security of frontline states."
The financing of the Baltic Security Initiative program, launched in 2020, is also in question. Last year, Congress allocated $288 million for it, but this year the Trump administration has not requested additional funds from Congress.
At the same time, a separate program to finance purchases of expensive military equipment from the United States was not cut: participating countries will continue to receive money for the purchase of aircraft, ships and tanks. It is unclear from the publication whether we are talking about refundable or non-refundable funds.
"We are not financing anything"
Since Donald Trump's return to the White House, the administration has been gradually reviewing the US attitude towards the deployment of troops at its bases scattered around the world, as well as seeking to reduce military funding for other countries. In particular, it has already been stated that the American contingent in Europe may be reduced.
Yesterday, at a meeting with President Karol Nawrocki at the White House, Trump reiterated this. The American leader said he was "very pleased" with this arrangement and added that "we will accommodate more people there if they want to."
At the end of August, Trump announced that the United States was no longer involved in financing Ukraine.
"We sell missiles and military equipment worth millions, even billions of dollars to NATO representatives. Thus, they are financing [the conflict in Ukraine]. We don't finance anything. I think it's important to convey this, because many people don't understand this," the US president explained.
Alexander Kondratiev
