H.R. 5793 — Eastern Flank Strategic Partnership Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings concerning the security roles of specified NATO allies (Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia) in deterring Russian aggression; their commitments to NATO defense spending targets, support for Ukraine, and forward deployments; the need for continued U.S. coordination, defense cooperation, and security assistance with those allies; Ukraine's frontline role against Russian aggression; and existing U.S. authorities and tools to enhance their resilience, logistics, and interoperability—including Foreign Military Financing under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763), capacity-building authority under 10 U.S.C. 333, excess defense articles under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j), and the War Reserve Stocks for Allies program under section 514 of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2321h).

This section defines, for purposes of the Act, (1) "appropriate congressional committees" as the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (2) "Eastern Flank strategic defense partner" as a NATO member state that shares a border with, or is in direct geographic proximity to, the Russian Federation, Republic of Belarus, or Ukraine and plays a role in defending NATO's Eastern Flank due to such proximity—specifically one that has committed to allocating 5% of its gross domestic product annually to defense by 2035 (including at least 3.5% for core defense requirements and NATO capability targets and 1.5% for other defense- and security-related investments), hosts or supports forward deployment of NATO military forces (including rotational deployments), and faces persistent threats from hostile state actors—including Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.

This section establishes U.S. policy to (1) recognize the critical role of Eastern Flank strategic defense partners in defending NATO’s Eastern Flank, deterring aggression from hostile state actors, and advancing transatlantic security; (2) prioritize cooperation with such partners in implementing defense cooperation authorities; (3) treat them as priority recipients of security assistance; and (4) support Ukraine with security assistance necessary to deter Russian aggression against NATO allies along the Eastern Flank. It directs the Secretaries of State and Defense to prioritize these partners, as appropriate and consistent with law, for (1) Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program assistance under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763), (2) capacity building assistance for foreign security forces under 10 U.S.C. 333 (i.e., DoD authority to provide training, equipment, and related support for counterterrorism, maritime security, and similar operations), (3) transfers of excess defense articles under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j), and (4) participation in bilateral and multilateral military exercises, interoperability training, logistics, and forward mobility planning. This section requires implementation of the policy and priorities to reinforce bilateral defense cooperation arrangements, including defense cooperation agreements and status-of-forces agreements.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, consistent with operational requirements and in consultation with NATO allies to increase regional deterrence and reduce strategic response time, to (1) prioritize Eastern Flank strategic defense partners under the War Reserve Stocks for Allies program (22 U.S.C. 2321h)—which authorizes prepositioning of Department of Defense defense articles in foreign countries for rapid allied use in contingencies, subject to annual value limits (currently $500 million total for FY2023-FY2026, with no more than $200 million for Israel)—and (2) consider expanding such stockpiles in additional Eastern Flank strategic defense partner countries, as appropriate.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to brief the appropriate congressional committees not later than 180 days after enactment on the implementation of sections 3 and 4, including timelines, goals, and cooperative mechanisms.