The United States has decided to stop funding programs that support the armed forces of countries bordering Russia, particularly the Baltic states. This was reported by the Financial Times, citing its sources.
According to the report, last week the Pentagon informed Eastern European countries of the US decision to halt military aid. The matter concerns the annual assistance provided for equipment, training, and security to countries bordering Russia, such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Reports indicate that funding for this program requires approval from Congress, but the US administration has not submitted a new request for it. Previously approved funds will be sufficient until September 2025.
From 2018 to 2022, the US allocated nearly $1.6 billion to support military programs in Europe. The countries that benefited the most from these funds were the Baltic trio—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
According to an official statement from the White House, this decision was agreed upon with partners in Europe and aims for "Europe to take on more responsibility for its own defense." However, according to Financial Times interlocutors, some European governments were surprised by this decision.
According to one source's estimation, the US is urging the wealthy countries of the European Union—Germany, France, and others—to fund the security of states bordering Russia from their own budgets.
Previously, it was reported that European leaders, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressed concern about the possibility of Russia launching a new offensive against Ukraine.
