The United States fosters a robust and enduring security partnership with the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Since 2016, we convened the U.S.-Baltic Dialogue to broaden and deepen our range of security cooperation activities and address Baltic-wide security gaps. Security assistance programs like Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) enhanced territorial defense capabilities and promoted interoperability with the United States and NATO.
Since the beginning of FY 2015, the United States sold approximately $503.9 million worth of U.S-origin defense articles and services to the Baltic states under the Foreign Military Sales program, using partner national funds and FMF through the Department of State.
Since January 2015, the United States authorized more than $346.3 million in defense articles to the Baltic states via the Direct Commercial Sales process.
Since 2015, the United States’ FMF contribution to the Baltic states exceeded $250 million. This contribution is due in part to the resurgence of Russian aggression over the past few years. U.S. support through FMF developed defensive capabilities, such as electronic and hybrid warfare, border security, and maritime and air domain awareness. It also increased the Baltic states’ interoperability with NATO armed forces and contributes to NATO’s defense and integrated deterrence posture in the region. These three NATO Allies are among the most committed to improving and enhancing their military capabilities; Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania fully meet their 2014 Wales Pledge for 2% defense spending as a share of GDP and 20% major equipment purchases as a share of defense spending. In early 2022, the Department approved Third Party Transfer requests from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to transfer U.S.-origin equipment to Ukraine to bolster its defenses in the face of growing Russian aggression.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania also each received about $1.2 million annually in IMET assistance between 2015 and 2018 and approximately $2 million in 2019 to support professional military education for approximately 150 mid-level and senior military officers at Department of Defense (DoD) schools in the United States.
Further, since 2015, DoD provided approximately $290 million in Title 10-funded train and equip programs for the Baltic states. This includes approximately $83.1 million in FY 2019 funds alone.
In 2017, the United States signed Defense Cooperation Agreements with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These foundational agreements established the framework for enhanced partnership and defense and security cooperation between the United States and our NATO Allies. Together with the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, these agreements provide the full necessary legal framework for U.S. forces operating in the Baltic states. In 2019, the United States signed
Security Cooperation Roadmaps with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These agreements identify agreed-upon security cooperation priorities for 2019-2024.
For more than 25 years, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania collaborated with the Maryland, Michigan, and Pennsylvania National Guard units, respectively, through the State Partnership Program, which brings together military personnel for training, education, and related activities.
For further information, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at PM-CPA@state.gov, and follow the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs on Twitter, @StateDeptPM.
