US to halt security aid program for Eastern European armies

According to a report by the Financial Times (FT) citing sources, the United States will halt security aid for the armies of countries bordering Russia.

Sources told the newspaper that the Pentagon informed European diplomats last week that Washington would no longer finance programs to train and equip Eastern European armies.

The report noted that expenditures under the program require congressional approval and that the current US administration has not made an additional request for these funds.

Currently approved funds can reportedly be used until next September. The FT added that the decision will not affect programs for purchasing military equipment such as fighter jets, ships, and tanks.

Under the scaled-back program, $1.6 billion was sent to Europe between 2018 and 2022.

The primary recipients of this aid were Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The newspaper reported that a separate initiative to finance the armies of these countries is also at risk.

European governments surprised by the decision

The White House stated that the decision was coordinated with Europe and was made with an emphasis on Europe “taking more responsibility for its own defense.”

The newspaper’s sources, however, reported that European governments were surprised by this step and are assessing whether they can compensate for the losses.

A source speaking to the FT suggested that the US aims to encourage wealthier European nations to pay for the security of at-risk states through this move.a