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The US Congress approved a $200 million security assistance package for the Baltic states as Russian activity along NATO’s eastern flank intensifies. The funding was approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Defence Appropriations Act and signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 3.
US Congress Approves Funds for Baltic Nations
The legislation secures continued backing for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI). The overall defence package totaled $838.7 billion. The initiative maintains funding for security cooperation with the three Baltic states, despite previous attempts within the Pentagon to eliminate it.
An additional $10 million was allocated to Estonia through the Foreign Military Financing program. Tallinn had previously used this funding to acquire HIMARS ammunition, Javelin missiles, and large-calibre artillery shells.
“This is great for deterrence for our Baltic allies,” said Republican Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE), a retired Air Force brigadier general and co-chair of the House Baltic Caucus. He noted the issue gained priority after the US Department of Defence considered defunding the program. “Congress is committed to a strong NATO alliance, and we know that extra emphasis is needed regarding the Baltics,” Bacon said, adding that history demonstrates the risks of disengagement.
US Reaffirming Support to NATO
Bacon emphasized broad bipartisan support for NATO within Congress. “Most in Congress are committed to NATO and know we need friends to counter China, Russia and Iran. We cannot do it alone. America alone is America weaker,” he said.
The Baltic countries are all NATO members and have strongly supported Ukraine during its war with Russia. Tensions in the region have been rising, including an incident in September where three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland for approximately 12 minutes.
This prompted Estonia to request an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and invoke Article 4 of the Atlantic Treaty, initiating consultations among allies regarding the perceived threat. Bacon stressed the importance of preventing Ukraine from falling in its war against Russia.
“If Ukraine falls,” he said, “we should know with certainty that Moldova will be next,” followed by increased pressure on the Baltics and Georgia. “We should not be neutral,” Bacon said. “We should stand on the side of freedom…and against a dictator thug.”
How Baltic is Reacting to the Move
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys described the congressional vote as a significant political decision, highlighting strong transatlantic ties and the Baltic states’ commitment to US-made defence capabilities. Budrys spoke to Radio Liberty during a visit to Washington on February 4.
He also pointed to the broader security challenges facing the region, including Russian and Belarusian hybrid operations. Lithuania and its neighbours are gaining experience in countering tactics such as cyber warfare, information warfare, migration manipulation, and disruptions to civil aviation.
“We should expect that it will come in new forms tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” he warned, characterizing hybrid pressure as a persistent feature of the new security landscape. He also lauded the bipartisan support for the funding.
The Defence Appropriations Act passed the House by a 217–214 margin and the Senate with a 71–29 vote before being signed into law by President Trump.
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