The United States is set to reduce security assistance programs for Eastern European countries bordering Russia, as part of a broader strategy to encourage European nations to enhance their own defense spending. Pentagon officials informed European diplomats last week that funding for military training and equipment in frontline states will be phased out.
The decision affects programs funded under section 333, which require congressional approval for spending. While funds already allocated are secured until September 2026, the Trump administration has not requested additional funding. Estimates suggest that cutting this assistance could result in a reduction of hundreds of millions of dollars from the program’s global budget of over $1 billion.
Between 2018 and 2022, section 333 allocated approximately $1.6 billion in Europe, with key recipients including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The program accounted for nearly 29 percent of global spending under this authority, as noted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
This initiative appears aimed at prompting wealthier European nations to shoulder more responsibility for the security of their eastern neighbors, according to an unnamed European official. As previously reported, similar situations have arisen where countries are urged to bolster their own defense capabilities amidst changing geopolitical dynamics.
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