The United States is preparing to pare back security assistance that helps train and equip European partners along Russia’s border, according to officials briefed on the plan. The decision centers on suspending support under Section 333—an authority the Pentagon has used for years to build partner capacity—and could reduce hundreds of millions of dollars in training and equipment, with Baltic programs particularly affected.

What Is Being Cut

Section 333 of U.S. law authorizes the Defense Department to fund partner-force training and equipment for defined missions. The Pentagon has notified European counterparts that assistance under this authority will be wound down for frontline allies, according to people familiar with the briefings. Section 333 has been a workhorse tool for capacity-building; its scope and legal contours are set in 10 U.S.C. § 333.

Who Is Most Exposed

Officials and regional diplomats say the Baltic Security Initiative—long a pillar for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—faces particular strain. European sources expect already-appropriated funds to run into late 2026, but warn new requests are not forthcoming, stretching timelines for some weapons and training.

The Rationale—and the Rebalance

Pentagon officials have framed the move within a broader realignment: prioritizing deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, shoring up U.S. stockpiles, and encouraging Europe to assume more of the burden on its own frontier. Recent posture statements and senior-level speeches have underscored that tilt.

Europe’s Spending Pledge

Allies have pledged to raise defense outlays beyond the long-standing 2% benchmark. Public remarks after the June 2025 summit pointed to a glidepath toward 5% of GDP in the years ahead, while allied documents also outline interim targets—such as a 3.5% benchmark by 2035—reflecting how burden-sharing is tightening over time.

Signals vs. Posture on the Ground

The assistance drawdown arrives as Washington reassures key allies on force presence. After meeting Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki at the White House on September 3, President Donald Trump said the U.S. would “put more [troops] there” if requested—an overture meant to steady nerves even as program funding recedes.

Congressional Pushback

Capitol Hill reaction was swift. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the plan “a misguided move that sends exactly the wrong signal as we try to force Putin to the negotiating table and deter Russian aggression,” noting broad bipartisan support for using this authority in Europe.