US congress increases military funding to Baltic states

On December 20 the US Congress disclosed its reviewed defence budget for 2023, which entails a 20% increase in military funding for the Baltic States. 

As reported by the Estonian World, the allocated funds for the three European countries now equal $225 million as part of the Baltic Security Initiative of Washington.

“This decision is a clear example of the United States’ long-lasting and steadfast support to the Baltic states. We’ve made important progress this year in increasing our defence spending and fostering our defence, and the US support helps us develop our independent defence capability even more”, the Estonian defence minister, Hanno Pevkur, said.

“Additional forces and capabilities from the United States have also arrived in Estonia, which greatly strengthens our defence posture and increases not just our security but that of the entire region as well”, Pevkur added.

The secretary general of the Estonian foreign ministry, Jonatan Vseviov, said this was an important step which stems from the long-term work done on Estonia’s part.

“The US decision to increase defence funding for the Baltic states shows that our strategic allied relationship is strong”, he said and thanked Estonia’s partners in the US and his colleagues in Estonia who have made it possible.

Under the reviewed defence budget, the US will support countries that have been affected by Russia’s aggression with a total of $350 million, according to the Estonian defence ministry.

Out of the $225 million, Estonia has been allocated €140.5 million, which is close to 14 times more than previously and will, as the publication stated, largely be used for the acquiring of high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS).