Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Bolster Baltic Security Against Russian Aggression

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced the Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2026 on Wednesday, March 18, legislation designed to assess and strengthen security cooperation with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania amid ongoing concerns about Russian aggression. The bill requires the State Department and Department of Defense to deliver a comprehensive report to Congress detailing emerging threats to the Baltic states.

Key Provisions of the Baltic Security Assessment Act

The Baltic Security Assessment Act mandates a report to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Relations, and Appropriations. This report will focus on:

• Identifying emerging threats posed to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
• Analyzing the role of malign actors, including Russia, Belarus, China, and Iran, in military, cyber, hybrid, and political threats.
• Evaluating the current regional deterrence posture of the United States and NATO.
• Identifying opportunities to enhance bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation between the U.S. And the Baltic countries, including through existing initiatives like the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI).

Bipartisan Support and Congressional Action

The legislation is co-chaired by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Cosponsors include Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Boozman (R-AR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Susan Collins (R-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

Strengthening the U.S.-Baltic Alliance

Senator Grassley emphasized the shared values between the U.S. And the Baltic nations, stating, “The United States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are all united by the principles of democracy and the free market… This bipartisan legislation will strengthen our ties with the Baltics by ensuring the United States carefully assesses the evolving threats they face.”

Senator Durbin, whose mother was a Lithuanian immigrant, highlighted the importance of the alliance, saying, “The Baltic countries are essential NATO partners in upholding democratic values and transatlantic security… Our bill encourages coordination between Congress and the Administration on the threats posed to the Baltic countries by bad actors such as Russia, Belarus, China, and Iran.”

Recent Efforts to Support Baltic Security

This legislation builds upon previous efforts to bolster Baltic security. In 2025, Senator Durbin secured $231.5 million in defense appropriations funding for the Baltic Security Initiative. He also secured $200 million for the BSI in the recently enacted Fiscal Year 2026 defense appropriations bill.

Last March, Senators Durbin and Grassley introduced the Baltic Security Initiative Act, aiming to codify the BSI, which was established in 2021 to enhance U.S. Security cooperation with the Baltics in response to increased Russian hybrid attacks and the war in Ukraine.

In September 2025, Senator Durbin introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2026 to protect the Baltic Security Initiative as the Trump Administration considered suspending the program. This amendment was ultimately included in the final FY 2026 NDAA conference agreement.

Long-Standing Commitment to the Baltics

Senator Durbin’s commitment to the U.S.-Baltic alliance dates back years. In 2022, he received the Aleksandras Stulginskis Star Award in Lithuania, recognizing his decades-long support for Lithuanian independence and democracy. He was in Vilnius when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.