The US is to phase out security assistance programmes for European armies along Russia’s border, as it pushes the continent to pay for more of its own defence, FT reports.
Pentagon officials last week informed European diplomats that the US would no longer fund programmes that train and equip militaries in eastern European countries that would be on the frontline of any conflict with Russia, people familiar with the matter said.
Spending for the Pentagon programme, which falls under an authority known as section 333, must be agreed by the US Congress, but the Trump administration has not requested more money. Funds already approved will be available until the end of September 2026.
A White House official said the move aligned with President Donald Trump’s efforts to “re-evaluate and realign” foreign aid, and corresponded with an executive order he issued on his first day in office.
“This action has been co-ordinated with European countries in line with the executive order and the president’s long-standing emphasis on ensuring Europe takes more responsibility for its own defence,” the official said.
Under pressure from Trump, US Nato allies in June agreed to increase their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP.
Winding down the section 333 funding would affect a programme with a worldwide budget of more than $1bn, according to estimates from Senate aides, potentially cutting hundreds of millions of dollars the US sends to the Russian border countries. The Pentagon has not informed lawmakers of the exact amount that will be phased out.
The programme allocated $1.6bn in Europe between 2018-2022, roughly 29 per cent of the global 333 spending, according to the US Government Accountability Office. Key recipients include Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Նյութերը գեներացվում են տարբեր կայքերից արհեստական բանականության միջոցով