The United States has decided to cut from the security funds for Eastern European countries that are bordering on Russia. Europeans, taken by surprise
About 80,000 American soldiers are held in Europe. Photo Dreamstime.com
The United States will gradually eliminate security assistance programs for armies of European countries along the border with Russia, a measure that comes to the context of Washington presses NATO allies in Europe to contribute more to their own defense, reports the British Financial Times on Thursday.
Pentagon officials informed the European diplomats last week that the US will no longer finance the training and equipment programs in the Eastern European countries that would be practically in the first line of any conflict with Russia, informed for the Financial Times familiar with this subject.
These expenses in the Pentagon program are approved directly by the US Congress, and the funds already approved will be available until the end of September 2026. The Financial Times notes that the Trump Administration has not requested the funds.
Baltic countries, the most affected
An official of the White House said that this measure is in accordance with President Trump's efforts to “re -evaluate and reorient” the external help of the United States and at the same time corresponds to an executive order issued on the first day of his mandate.
“This measure has been coordinated with the European countries, in accordance with the Executive Order and for the President for a long time for Europe to take on greater responsibility for its own defense,” said the American official, according to FT.
Under Trump's pressure, NATO US allies agreed to increase their defense expenses at 5% of GDP.
The discounts provided by Pentagon would affect a program with a global budget of over $ 1 billion, according to estimates of some US Senate representatives, which could lead to the suppression of hundreds of millions of dollars from the funds sent by the US neighboring countries. However, the Pentagon did not inform the American Congressmen about the exact amount that will be gradually eliminated.
Between 2018 and 2022, for example, this program were allocated $ 1.6 billion in Europe, and among the main beneficiaries are the three Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
European allies, surprised by the decision
Officials from dozens of European embassies in Washington, including countries not benefiting from this assistance, participated in the last week's meeting in which the Pentagon officials communicated their budget discounts.
A European official told FT's journalists that the measure seems to have the purpose of encouraging the richer European countries to contribute more to the security assistance granted to the first line of a potential armed conflict with Russia.
But, according to two diplomats informed about discussions, European governments have been surprised by this Pentagon communication and try to get more details from Washington.
Europeans also try to determine whether internal financing can cover the deficit or if discounts will have an impact on the critical elements of European security.
“If they will be brutal (discounts), then there will be major implications,” said one of the diplomats, adding that NATO will certainly be affected, because some of the funding was directed through the Alliance.
“This news causes a lot of concern and uncertainty,” said a second diplomat quoted by FT, comparing Trump's previous decision to reduce US external help.
