The USA stops funding security programs for European countries near the border with Russia, forcing the continent to pay more for its own defense, reports the Financial Times.
Pentagon officials informed European diplomats last week that the USA will no longer fund training and equipping programs for Eastern European countries that would find themselves on the front lines in the event of a conflict with Russia. Already approved funds will be available until the end of September 2026.
Budget and Aid Recipients
The program has a global budget of over $1 billion, of which $1.6 billion were allocated to Europe between 2018-2022. Key aid recipients are Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The Baltic Security Initiative, established in 2020 to strengthen the armed forces of the three Baltic states, is also at risk. Last year, Congress approved $288 million to support the initiative, but the White House did not request further funding.
This move is coordinated with European countries in accordance with an executive order and the president's long-standing emphasis that Europe should take more responsibility for its own defense, a White House official stated.
The USA stops funding security programs for European countries with a border with Russia to encourage Europe to take greater responsibility for its defense. This decision also means the end of funding for some important programs, such as the Baltic Security Initiative. European countries will now need to pay more attention to their own defense capabilities in the future.