Overview
- Legislators from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania sent a joint letter asking key committees to codify and fund the Baltic Security Initiative in upcoming defense and appropriations bills.
- Pentagon officials told European counterparts they do not intend to fund the BSI next fiscal year and signaled a broader elimination of U.S. European Command security assistance authorities.
- A senior Trump administration official said the White House supports the Pentagon’s burden‑sharing push, while several members of Congress have voiced opposition, setting up a potential legislative–executive clash.
- Baltic officials say the proposed reductions would not affect U.S. troop deployments or separate State Department Foreign Military Financing, though congressional approval is required for any cuts.
- Regional urgency has grown after Poland reported shooting down suspected Russian drones and Lithuania logged drone incursions from Belarus, as the Baltics boost defense outlays toward and above 5% of GDP.