Baltic MPs call on US to continue funding Baltic Security Initiative

TALLINN - Members of the parliaments of the Baltic states have sent a joint letter to the leaders of the committees of the US Congress in which they ask the Congress to continue the funding of the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI).

In the letter, the MPs thank the US for supporting the security of the Baltic states, which over the years has evolved into a robust political, economic and military partnership, and note that the Congress has played a vital role in advancing this relationship. According to them, the Congress has for the last few years allocated funds for the Baltic Security Initiative, which have been used to accelerate national military capability development and enhance regional and collective defense and deterrence.

Members of the Baltic parliaments underline that historically, the Baltic nations have been strong allies of the US.

"We were together with you in Iraq and Afghanistan, we stand by Taiwan, Israel and the democratic opposition in Cuba, we resist autocracies in Belarus and Russia, we fight alongside you for freedom democracy, peace worldwide. We work with the United States for the security, sovereignty, territorial integrity of Ukraine, and its transatlantic future," they write, adding that the million strong Baltic American community is the bedrock of strong transatlantic links between our nations.

The MPs say in the letter that they fully recognize that the resources of the US are stretched nationally and across the globe.

"That is why we are resolute in our commitment to defend ourselves. Baltic countries will spend beyond 5 percent of GDP next year and provide the highest per capita military support to Ukraine. We have long spent above NATO’s minimum threshold for defense spending. We will continue enhancing our national resilience and civil preparedness, and we will further invest in host-nation support for US forces stationed in our country," they write.

Baltic MPs assure that security cooperation with the US remains a strategic priority for all three countries.

"This strong and successful ongoing military cooperation among our militaries provides key capabilities that benefit the NATO Alliance and are designed to prevent further conflict in Europe. We hope this enduring partnership will continue to receive strong support in the Congress," the MPs write. "Your support will be instrumental in continuing the Baltic Security Initiative. Therefore, we kindly ask you to support the funding of the Baltic Security Initiative in the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bill and its authorization in the National Defense Appropriations Act."

The letter was sent to the leaders of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, the House National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Europe Subcommittee, and the House Baltic Caucus, and to the Senate Committee on Armed Services, the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus.

The joint letter was signed by 36 members of the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Members of the Estonian parliament from all parliamentary groups signed the letter, including President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar, chairman of the EU affairs committee Peeter Tali, chairman of the national defense committee Kalev Stoicescu, chairman of the foreign affairs committee Marko Mihkelson and MPs Mart Helme, Leo Kunnas, Urmas Reinsalu, Luisa Rõivas, Kristo Enn Vaga, Henn Põlluaas, Lauri Laats and Raimond Kaljulaid.

Saeima press service informed LETA that the letter on behalf of Latvia was signed by Saeima speaker Daiga Mierina (Greens/Farmers), Saeima secretary and foreign committee member Edvards Smiltens (United List), Saeima deputy secretary and European affairs committee member Janis Grasbergs (National Alliance), foreign committee chairwoman Inara Murniece (National Alliance), foreign committee deputy chairwoman Irma Kalnina (New Unity), committee deputy chairman Andrejs Vilks (Greens/Farmers), national security committee chairman Ainars Latkovskis (New Unity), committee deputy chairman Janis Dombrava (National Alliance), Baltic Assembly president, foreign committee member Janis Vucans (Greens/Farmers) and European committee lawmaker Harijs Rokpelnis (Greens/Farmers).