The US Department of State has reinstated military aid programs for Baltic states following a review, Lithuanian media reported on Tuesday. The decision restores key funding mechanisms that support Lithuania’s defense capabilities and officer training.
According to Lithuanian Ambassador to Washington Audra Plepytė, the aid includes a military fund that allows Lithuania to purchase equipment and gear, as well as an international student program that provides training for approximately 10 Lithuanian officers in the US annually. These programs, valued at tens of millions of euros per year, operate independently from direct Pentagon assistance or US troop deployments in Lithuania.
Currently, around 1,000 US troops are stationed in Lithuania on a rotational basis. The aid reinstatement follows a February announcement by the Trump administration to freeze all foreign assistance for a comprehensive review, affecting multiple military support initiatives worldwide.
