As Pentagon Reportedly Moves to Cut Security Aid to Baltic Allies, Durbin Speaks on NDAA Amendment And Urges Trump to Continue Bipartisan Support for Baltic Security Initiative

As Pentagon Reportedly Moves to Cut Security Aid to Baltic Allies, Durbin Speaks on NDAA Amendment And Urges Trump to Continue Bipartisan Support for Baltic Security Initiative

Durbin introduced an amendment to the NDAA that would bolster security aid for the Baltics-among the highest nations in meeting NATO spending targets-as the Department of Defense aims to suspend the critical program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor chastising the Pentagon's decision to suspend the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI), a program that Durbin has been integral in establishing. Durbin introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2026 that would shore up support for BSI as the Trump Administration aims to suspend it.

Durbin began his remarks by sharing his personal connection to the Baltic region as the child of a Lithuanian immigrant.

"It's been my honor and one of the highlights of my Senate career to watch the restoration of democracy in the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. I've said on the floor many times, with real pride, [that] my mother was born in Lithuania, and she was an immigrant to this country at the age of two. She never made it back to her home country, where she was born, but I did, even to the town where she was baptized and raised before she came to the United States," Durbin began.

"In 1978 or 1979, I visited what was then the Soviet Socialist Republic of Lithuania. I'm still struck by the images which were so common there. [I recall] The gray Soviet approach to things, both physical and otherwise, and the belief that these poor people were under the subjugation of Moscow at a time when they deserved independence," Durbin said. "Then to have served in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, and [I] watch[ed] the evolution of Lithuania, as well as Latvia and Estonia, as democratic countries. Then [there was] the amazing development, where they became part of NATO and part of the European Union and became western-viewing nations and equal partners with other countries in Europe when it came to security and democracy. It's remarkable."

Durbin then spoke about his dedication to create the Baltic Security Initiative, a program that strengthens U.S. cooperation with the Baltics amid an increase of Russian hybrid attacks in the Baltics and across Europe as Vladimir Putin wages war on Ukraine. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, Durbin 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.

"I've tried over the years to maintain the strong relationship between the Baltic states and NATO, and also the strong relationship with the United States and these three Baltic nations. One of the things that I worked on for a number of years is known as the Baltic Security Initiative. It's an investment by the United States of several million dollars in the training of troops in the Baltic states so that they're prepared if they're brought into any conflict," Durbin said.

"Being part of NATO means that our alliance will stand by them if they're ever invaded by another country. I hope that never happens, but if it does it means that NATO is there. They cannot go it alone, but they certainly have shown they're prepared to do their part to demonstrate their commitment to democracy and the values the United States shares," Durbin continued.

As the Pentagon attempts to abandon the U.S.' commitment to its allies in the Baltics, Durbin introduced a bipartisan amendment to the NDAA that 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

"We're now considering the National Defense Authorization bill. It's an important piece of legislation, which we every year, take seriously and pass, and I hope we do this time as well. I've offered amendments that would strengthen our alliances and my bipartisan amendment to authorize the Baltic Security Initiative," Durbin said.

"Since I created the program by including it in the FY21 appropriations bill, this initiative has provided millions in dedicated security assistance to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These important NATO allies are on the frontlines of Russian aggression. They have a long history of experiencing Russian tyranny, and I firmly believe they would also have been targets of Putin if they were not members of NATO," Durbin continued. "They are some of the top NATO members in terms of military expenditure as a percentage of GDP, something President Trump has rightfully urged."

Durbin warned that suspending the Baltic Security Initiative would play into Putin's desire to expand Russia's control in Eastern Europe.

"Despite the clear success of this program, we recently learned that the Trump Administration announced last week that it intends to suspend the European security programs, including the Baltic Security Initiative. That must be music to the ears of Vladimir Putin, and it sends a dangerous signal as Putin continues to attack Ukraine, despite assurances from President Trump that he would end the war in Ukraine on his first day in office," Durbin said.

"We should not allow the President to unilaterally threaten our alliances that have been carefully threaded over decades and decades. I am grateful to the Senior Senator from Iowa, Senator Grassley, for joining me on the amendment which I'm going to offer on the Baltic Security Initiative," Durbin said.

"I'm reaching out to colleagues on both sides of the aisle and asking them to stand with me, for the Baltics, to make it clear to Putin this is not going to be easy picking for him in the future. They are part of the NATO alliance and a worthy part, as well. We should continue our support, and I hope the Baltic Security Initiative is an indication of that. I urge colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in this bipartisan effort to support Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia," Durbin concluded his remarks.

Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

In March, Durbin re-introduced the Baltic Security Initiative Act.

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-