Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia prepare push to stop US security cuts amid Russia threat
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Polish territorial defence officials at the crash site of a Russian drone in the village of Wohyn, eastern Poland, on Sept 10.
PHOTO: EPA
Follow topic:
- Baltic nations' parliaments will jointly ask US Congress to save the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI) amid growing Russian threats.
- The Pentagon plans to eliminate BSI funding, despite its provision of around $220 million in security assistance since 2020.
- Congress members oppose the Pentagon's move, potentially leading to a standoff over BSI funding authorisation; Baltic states want BSI to continue.
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WASHINGTON - The parliaments of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are preparing a joint letter asking key committee heads in the US Congress to save a major security assistance programme in the face of ongoing Russian threats, according to a draft of the note and two people familiar with the effort.
The bid to salvage the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI) comes as Eastern Europe and the Baltic states confront increasingly severe threats.
On Sept 10, Poland shot down suspected Russian drones in its airspace Russia’s war in Ukraine
All three Baltic nations share a border with Russia.
Lithuania in August wrote to Nato asking it to help strengthen its air defences, after two military drones crossed into its territory from Belarus, a close Russian ally.
The BSI began in 2020 during US President Donald Trump’s first term as a response to rising security threats in the region after Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine. The programme has recently provided the Baltic nations with around US$220 million (S$280 million) in security assistance funding, though the amount has varied by year.
But at a meeting with European officials in late August, Pentagon officials said they did not intend to fund the programme
The Baltic letter, a draft of which was seen by Reuters, asks that Congress pass legislation codifying and funding the BSI, despite the Pentagon’s intention to eliminate the programme.
The letter notes that the Baltic countries spend well over the minimum thresholds on defence set by Nato, and that they play a key role in resisting Russian and Belarusian aggression. It also notes the US has a significant Baltic community.
US move faces opposition
Members of Congress – including some Republican allies of US President Donald Trump – have opposed the Pentagon’s move. Should the BSI be specifically authorised in the annual defence and spending Bills working their way through Congress, there could be a stand-off, with Pentagon officials refusing to spend the funds.
During the most recent meeting with European officials, Pentagon officials acknowledged that such a scenario could occur and that the outcome would be uncertain, said one person familiar with the meeting.
“In addition to our own defence capability building, this assistance has allowed us to reach our goals more swiftly, as well as to procure American defence systems,” said Ms Sarah Luure, a spokesperson for the Estonian embassy in Washington.
“We are grateful and would like to see Baltic Security Initiative continue.”
The Lithuanian and Latvian embassies did not respond to requests for comment.
The letter should be sent this week, said a source familiar with the matter.
A senior Trump administration official indicated that the White House stood behind the Pentagon’s move to slash the BSI programme.
“Europe has been stepping up to take more responsibility for their own defence,” said the senior administration official.
“Many of our European allies are among the world’s wealthiest countries; they are fully capable of funding these programmes if they choose.” REUTERS
