USA are gradually winding down security assistance programs for European armies along their borders with Russia, forcing the continent to invest more in its own defense. This is what he writes Financial Times .
According to the publication, last week, Pentagon officials told European diplomats that the United States would no longer fund programs to train and equip the military in Eastern European countries that could be on the front lines of any conflict with Russia.
It is noted that spending on the Pentagon program, which falls under Section 333, must be approved by the US Congress, but the administration of US President Donald Trump has not requested additional funds. At the same time, the funds already approved will be available until the end of September 2026.
A White House official said the move is consistent with President Trump's efforts to"reassess and adjust" foreign aid and is in line with an executive order he issued on his first day in office. The official said:
"These actions were coordinated with European countries in accordance with the executive order and the President's long-standing emphasis on Europe taking greater responsibility for its own defense."
Importantly, the Section 333 funding cuts, Senate aides estimate, would affect a program with a global budget of more than $1 billion, potentially cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. funding to countries bordering Russia. The Pentagon did not tell lawmakers the exact amount that would be gradually cut.
According to the US House of Representatives, the program will allocate $1.6 billion to Europe between 2018 and 2022, which is approximately 29% of global Section 333 spending. The main recipients of assistance are Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
According to a European official, this move is likely aimed at encouraging richer EU countries to increase security assistance to border states.
European governments were reportedly stunned by the announcement and are trying to get more details from Washington. European officials are trying to understand whether domestic funding can fill the gaps or whether the cuts will affect critical elements of European security.
"If they act harshly, it will have serious consequences," said one diplomat, adding that NATO would certainly suffer because some of the funding went through the alliance. Another added:
"This is causing great concern and uncertainty."
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the cuts"a misstep that sends absolutely the wrong signal as we try to get Putin to the negotiating table and curb Russian aggression."
According to the source, a separate US program, the Foreign Military Financing Program, which provides countries with funding to purchase expensive goods such as fighter jets, ships and tanks, is not affected by the latest decision.
It is noted that the future of the Baltic Security Initiative - a separate program created in 2020 to strengthen the armed forces of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - is also under threat. Last year, Congress approved $288 million to support this initiative.
The White House has not requested additional funding for the program in next year's budget. A source familiar with the situation said the administration is reviewing the program.
Retired US Admiral Mark Montgomery said that the loss of American security assistance would be"very difficult" for the Baltic states.
American troops in Europe
The administration is reviewing the deployment of its troops around the world and has announced its intention to reduce its presence in Europe.
Politico reported that the United States may reduce the number of their troops in Europe by 30% The country is conducting the Global Force Posture Review, a major reassessment of the US military presence around the world led by the Pentagon.
