On March 25, the US Congress passed a bill that involved a total of $228 million in military and defence aid to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia this year under the Baltic Security Initiative.
“Support from the US has significantly helped Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fast track several military infrastructure and capability development projects,” Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said in a statement. “The good news is that the support is slightly higher than last year.”
“This (financial aid) sends a clear signal that the US, the largest ally in NATO, is committed to the security and stability of our region,” he added.
Created in 2020, the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI) is a measure through which the US Department of Defence supports developing military capability and interoperability of the armed forces of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The focus of the US funding is on developing air defence, maritime situational awareness and land forces in the Baltic States.
A total of $225 million was allocated under the BSI to the three countries in 2023. (LRT)
