Durbin Releases Statement On Trump Administration Suspending Baltic Security Initiative

Durbin Releases Statement On Trump Administration Suspending Baltic Security Initiative

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, today released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration suspending the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI):

"The Baltic nations are essential NATO partners in upholding democratic values and transatlantic security. By suspending the Baltic Security Initiative, President Trump is turning his back on our longstanding NATO allies, stripping them of the resources needed to counter increasing Russian aggression in the region as Putin continues to ruthlessly attack Ukraine.

"While the Trump White House puts the Baltics in a vulnerable position with this dangerous decision, we will continue to fight for and secure funding for BSI, an effort funded by Congress on a bipartisan basis, that has protected our critical allies on NATO's eastern flank."

The son of a Lithuanian immigrant, Durbin has long been a supporter of the U.S.-Baltic alliance. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, he secured $231.5 million in defense appropriations funding for the BSI. Durbin also fought to include $225 million for BSI in the FY26 Defense appropriations bill passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee in August.

In March, Durbin introduced the Baltic Security Initiative Act, bipartisan legislation to effectively codify the BSI effort, which will enhance and strengthen U.S. security cooperation with the Baltics amid an increase of Russian hybrid attacks in the Baltics and across Europe, and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.

Last Congress, Durbin introduced a resolution recognizing the importance of the alliance between the United States and the Baltic States.

In 2022, Durbin traveled to Vilnius, Lithuania, where he received the Aleksandras Stulginskis Star Award-only the second individual and first American to receive this award. It was granted to Durbin for his decades-long support of Lithuanian independence and democracy and his promotion of parliamentary values. He was in Vilnius almost three years ago on the morning Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

-30-