US Congress allocates 180 million dollars towards Baltic defence

In 2022 the US Congress allocated USD 180 million towards the improvement of defence of Baltic States, as reported by Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A delegation of advisors to the US Congress were visiting Latvia between 31 May and 2 June, as confirmed by the ministry.
During their visit, American delegates met with Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs state secretary Andris Pelšs and manager of Directorate for Economic Relations, Trade and Development Cooperation Juris Štālmeistars, as well as Ministry of Defence deputy state secretary Rolands Heniņš and Latvian President’s advisor for national security Jānis Kažociņš.
Sides also discussed the safety situation in the region, Russia’s war in Ukraine and its influence on the bigger world, as well as energy security related topics.
The delegation also visited Ādaži military base and Latvian companies developing high technologies in the field of 5G and UAVs.
The visit of US Congress advisors was organised as part of a joint Baltic States programme. Such visits to Baltic States are organised regularly since 2013. They help the US Congress study the security situation in the Baltic region and better understand the needs of Baltic States when it comes to security.
Every year US Congress evaluates and provides funding to help develop Baltic States defensive capabilities as part of Baltic Security Initiative.