We highly appreciate the decision of the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio to continue Foreign Military Financing to the Baltic states. This is yet another proof of our strategic ally the United States and the Baltic states having a common understanding and interest to strengthen defense cooperation and build a stronger and more secure NATO Alliance. Our mutual cooperation meets the national interests of both Latvia and the U.S. and makes our countries safer, stronger and more prosperous.
Thanks to the Foreign Military Financing program, Latvia will have the opportunity to continue purchasing important military equipment from the U.S. – air defense systems, long-range weapon systems, ammunition, and other. For its part, the International Military Education and Training program makes it possible for military personnel from the Baltic States to receive training at the U.S. military academies.
Military support provided by the U.S. has always been and will remain important for strengthening Latvia’s defense capabilities. In 2024, Latvia received a total of USD 80 million in military support from the U.S. Thanks to the Baltic Security Initiative and the Foreign Military Financing program, Latvia purchased military equipment (HIMARS, NSM, Javelin, Black Hawk, and others) from the U.S. last year to build its critical capabilities.
The Baltic states are the closest allies and friends of the U.S. – both in the NATO Alliance and in the Euro-Atlantic space. During all my working visits to the U.S. (I have made three working visits in the past two months), congressmen, senators from both parties and officials from the new administration have praised the leadership of Latvia and all the Baltic States in NATO in terms of investments in security and defense. The Baltic and the U.S. officials also share an opinion that Europe must invest more in its defense and that NATO capabilities must be further strengthened, including at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague this summer.
During each visit, the ways to further expand cooperation in defense, security, and energy are discussed with congressmen and senators of both parties, and the U.S. administration.
The order on a continued availability to the Baltic States of the Foreign Military Financing program and the International Military Education and Training program was signed by the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 7 March 2025. The Ambassadors of the Baltic states were informed about this at the Department of State on Tuesday, 10 March.