The United States Congress has greenlit a bill allocating a significant sum of $228 million in military and defense assistance to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania this year as part of the Baltic Security Initiative, as disclosed by Estonian defense officials on Saturday.
Under the recently passed US government funding legislation, military support has been earmarked for the trio of Baltic nations, all of which are NATO members and share borders with Russia, a decision sanctioned by lawmakers on Friday.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur expressed gratitude, stating that support from the US has significantly propelled Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in advancing various military infrastructure and capability development projects. Encouragingly, this year's support exceeds the previous year's allocation.
He emphasized that this financial aid sends a resolute message that the US, NATO's primary ally, is dedicated to ensuring the security and stability of our region.
Established in 2020, the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI) serves as a platform through which the US Department of Defense bolsters the military capabilities and interoperability of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The focal points of US funding include enhancing air defense, bolstering maritime situational awareness, and strengthening land forces across the Baltic states, according to Estonia's defense ministry. Notably, a total of $225 million was allocated under the BSI to the three nations in 2023.
In December, the US and the Baltic states inked a comprehensive five-year defense cooperation roadmap aimed at guiding collaborative defense and national security efforts through 2028.
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