The United States is ending funding for a programme to train and equip military personnel in Eastern European countries that could potentially find themselves on the front line in the event of a conflict with Russia. This was reported by the Financial Times, citing sources in diplomatic circles.
This refers to the so-called ‘Section 333’ — a Pentagon programme under which the US military trains and supplies weapons to allies around the world. In Europe, the main recipients of this aid were Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. According to the publication, between 2018 and 2022, the US allocated approximately $1.6 billion through Section 333 to support its partners in Europe. This accounted for approximately 29% of all programme expenditures. Although funding has been formally approved until September 2026, the White House does not plan to request additional funds.
According to the FT, Pentagon officials notified European diplomats of the upcoming funding cut last week. The news came as a shock to allies: the publication’s sources report that European representatives were ‘stunned’ by Washington’s decision and are now trying to assess its implications for the overall security architecture. Of particular concern is how the withdrawal of American funding will affect critical elements of defence on NATO’s eastern flank.
The decision is in line with the rhetoric of US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly stressed that European countries should increase their defence spending and rely less on military aid from Washington.
