Trump halted military aid to European countries bordering Russia

The administration of President Donald Trump has decided to gradually withdraw part of the security assistance that the United States provides to several European countries located on the border with Russia, such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

This measure is part of the "America First" foreign policy, which prioritizes reducing foreign aid and encourages international allies to take greater responsibility for their own defense.

According to sources close to the matter, the U.S. government has chosen to not renew funding for key programs such as Section 333 and the Baltic Security Initiative, whose funding was approved by Congress until September 2026.

These programs, managed by the Department of Defense, have been essential for training and equipping the armies of the Baltic countries, considered the first line of defense against possible Russian aggression.

A senior White House official justified the decision by stating that, since the beginning of his second term in January 2025, Trump signed an executive order to review and realign U.S. foreign aid. The official assured that this action was coordinated with the affected European countries and reflects the president's view that Europe must take a more active role in its regional security.

The decision has raised questions both in Europe and among progressive sectors in Washington. European defense leaders have stated that the presence of U.S. troops and U.S. military support are "key deterrents" against threats from the Kremlin. A European diplomat noted that "the Russians only pay attention to money, troops, and the U.S. flag."

Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a prominent member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the measure, calling it "wrong and dangerous." She argued that cutting training and support for allied soldiers could put U.S. troops operating alongside them at risk.

The withdrawal of funds represents a significant reduction in U.S. military investment in the region. In fact, between 2018 and 2022, the accumulated aid amounted to 1.6 billion dollars.

Although in June 2025 members of NATOagreed to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP, experts point out that this increase will not be enough to offset the budget gap left by the United States, at least in the short term.

Although Trump has been critical of Ukraine for not "doing enough" to end the conflict, his administration has also provided military support, such as the sale of 825 million dollars in weapons to Kyiv in August, including long-range missiles.

Despite the cuts, the Trump administration remains committed to maintaining the U.S. military presence in Poland.