Durbin Announces NDAA Amendment To Protect The Baltic Security Initiative

Durbin Announces NDAA Amendment To Protect The Baltic Security Initiative

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, introduced a bipartisan amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2026 to shore up support for his Baltic Security Initiative as the Trump Administration aims to suspend the program.

"The Baltic nations are essential NATO partners in upholding democratic values and transatlantic security. As the Trump Administration plans to suspend the Baltic Security Initiative, leaving our allies vulnerable to Putin, Congress must act," Durbin said. "I've introduced an amendment to the NDAA to ensure that the Baltics continue to receive the resources and support needed to fend off Russian aggression."

The amendment would authorize efforts since Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 to provide predictable, dedicated security assistance to the Baltics that will help enhance their national deterrent capabilities and further develop NATO integration and interoperability. Authorizing this effort is particularly critical amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and the Trump Administration's recent troubling decision to halt security assistance programs for European allies - including the Baltics - despite longstanding bipartisan support for these efforts and congressionally appropriated funding.

The amendment is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Peter Welch (D-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

A copy of Amendment #3689 is available here.

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.

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