S. 1009 — Baltic Security Initiative Act

This section establishes the Baltic Security Initiative, to be carried out by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to authorities in chapter 16 of title 10, United States Code, for the purpose of deepening security cooperation with the military forces of the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). The Initiative's objectives include (1) deterring Russian aggression and implementing NATO's new Strategic Concept to strengthen alliance deterrence and defense; (2) enhancing regional planning and cooperation on capabilities such as long-range precision fire systems, integrated air and missile defense, maritime domain awareness, land forces development (including ammunition stockpiling), command and control, special operations forces, coordination with Poland, and other capabilities determined by the Secretary; and (3) improving Baltic countries' cyber defenses and resilience to hybrid threats. Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate a strategy to achieve these objectives, considering existing security assistance programs, Russian threats to NATO's eastern flank (including the 2022 invasion of Ukraine), and Chinese malign activities. The section authorizes appropriations of $350 million for each of FY2026 through FY2028 and expresses a sense of Congress that the Secretary seek matching funds from participating Baltic countries.