Today, U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Commissioner Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., introduced the Eastern Flank Strategic Partnership Act of 2025. The legislation establishes it as U.S. policy to prioritize security cooperation with NATO’s Eastern Flank allies: Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. These countries are on the frontline of resisting the greatest threat to transatlantic security—Russian aggression.
“Our Eastern Flank allies are some of NATO’s most reliable contributors, meeting and exceeding defense spending benchmarks and providing critical support to Ukraine,” said Senators Wicker and Shaheen. “This bipartisan legislation sends a clear message that the United States recognizes their commitment and will continue to prioritize them in our security cooperation. At a time when Russia is testing NATO’s resolve – including with the recent incursions in Polish, Romanian, and Estonian airspace – our allies on the Eastern Flank are bearing their significant responsibility for the continued security of the entire alliance and need our unequivocal support. We will continue to establish policy that supports and protects our Eastern Flank allies.”
The Eastern Flank Strategic Partnership Act ensures that our allies on NATO’s front line are prioritized under existing authorities, including Foreign Military Financing, Section 333 (Authority to Build Partner Capacity), Excess Defense Articles, and War Reserve Stocks for Allies. The bill strengthens support for states investing heavily in their own defense without creating new programs or authorizing new funds and ensures that U.S. security assistance is focused where it is needed most.
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