Confusion and concern swept through European nations bordering Russia on September 5, 2025, as reports surfaced that the Trump administration plans to cut critical security assistance funding, including programs under Section 333 and the Baltic Security Initiative. These programs, vital for training and equipping NATO’s eastern flank, support weapons purchases, ammunition, special forces training, and intelligence operations, with potential cuts amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The Pentagon’s move, described as part of President Donald Trump’s push to make Europe “take more responsibility for its own defense,” has left Baltic defense leaders scrambling for clarity. Lithuania’s defense ministry policy director, Vaidotas Urbelis, noted “discussions and certain indications” from the US but no official notification. Latvia’s defense ministry echoed this, stating it had not received concrete decisions, while Estonia acknowledged the administration’s intent to reduce foreign aid but emphasized its own increased defense spending, set to reach 5% of GDP by 2026 alongside Poland and other Baltic states.
The cuts target programs like the Baltic Security Initiative, which allocated $377 million from 2018 to 2024 to fund critical capabilities, such as Estonia’s purchase of US-made HIMARS rocket systems. Section 333 funding, totaling nearly $1.6 billion for Europe from 2018 to 2022, is also at risk, though State Department funding—providing roughly $7 billion annually to the Baltic states, including $6 billion for US-made munitions—remains unaffected for now. The Estonian defense ministry stressed that any cuts would require congressional approval, highlighting tensions with US lawmakers.
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Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis warned that reducing US military support would “only weaken the credibility of NATO’s attempts at deterrence” amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Congressional figures, including retiring Rep. Don Bacon, condemned the move as “disastrous and shameful,” accusing the administration of weakness toward Russia. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Dick Durbin, alongside Republican Chuck Grassley, are pushing to codify the Baltic Security Initiative in the annual defense authorization bill to safeguard military cooperation with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The lack of official communication has frustrated allies and US lawmakers alike, with a congressional aide noting the cuts contradict recent Pentagon allocations. A White House official, speaking anonymously, claimed the action was coordinated with European partners, aligning with Trump’s broader policy of slashing foreign aid and pressuring NATO allies to boost defense spending. The Financial Times first reported the planned reductions, which come as Trump reshapes US foreign policy with proposals on tariffs and troop deployments.
As Baltic nations and Poland lead NATO in defense spending, the proposed cuts have sparked fears of weakened deterrence against Russia, especially with ongoing military drills in the region. The uncertainty underscores broader tensions in US-Europe relations, with allies struggling to interpret the administration’s unpredictable approach.
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