September 19 (legislative day, September 16), 2025
Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
To strengthen strategic defense cooperation between the United States and NATO allies on the Eastern Flank, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Eastern Flank Strategic Partnership Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
(1)
The frontline North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies of Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia play a critical role in regional and transatlantic security.
(2)
Those NATO allies have demonstrated consistent commitments to NATO defense spending targets, support for Ukraine, and forward deployments to deter Russian aggression.
(3)
Those NATO allies are on the front line of deterring and defending against threats from Russia and Belarus, and require continued United States coordination, defense cooperation, and security assistance.
(4)
Ukraine is on the front line of United States and NATO security, fighting to defend itself against Russian aggression that could also be turned upon those same NATO allies.
(5)
The United States possesses existing authorities and tools, including assistance under the Foreign Military Financing program under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763), assistance under section 333 of title 10, United States Code, transfer of 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 administered under section 514 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h), that can be used to enhance resilience, logistics, and interoperability with those NATO allies.
Sec. 3. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2) Eastern Flank strategic defense partner
The term Eastern Flank strategic defense partner—
(A)
means a NATO member state that—
(i)
shares a border with, or is in direct geographic proximity to, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, or Ukraine, and plays a role in the defense of NATO’s Eastern Flank due to its geographic proximity to those countries;
(ii)
has committed to allocating 5 percent of its gross domestic product annually to defense by 2035, including at least 3.5 percent for meeting core defense requirements and NATO capability targets and 1.5 percent for other defense- and security-related investments;
(iii)
hosts or supports the forward deployment of NATO military forces, including rotational deployments; and
(iv)
faces persistent threats from hostile state actors; and
(B)
includes Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
Sec. 4. Policy and priority for strategic defense cooperation
(a) Statement of policy
It is the policy of the United States—
(1)
to 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)
to prioritize cooperation with Eastern Flank strategic defense partners in the implementation of defense cooperation authorities;
(3)
to treat Eastern Flank strategic defense partners as priority recipients of security assistance under security assistance authorities; and
(4)
to support Ukraine, including with the security assistance necessary to deter Russian aggression against allies along NATO’s Eastern Flank.
(b) Priority
The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall, as appropriate and consistent with law, give priority to Eastern Flank strategic defense partners for the following:
(1)
Assistance under the Foreign Military Financing program under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763).
(2)
Assistance under section 333 of title 10, United States Code (relating to authority to build the capacity of foreign security forces).
(3)
Transfer of excess defense articles under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j).
(4)
Participation in bilateral and multilateral military exercises, interoperability training, logistics, and forward mobility planning.
(c) Implementation
The policy established by subsection (a) and the priority established by subsection (b) shall be implemented to reinforce bilateral defense cooperation arrangements, including defense cooperation agreements, status of forces agreements, and other bilateral or multilateral agreements.
Sec. 5. Stockpiling and pre-positioning of defense articles
Consistent with operational requirements and in consultation with NATO allies, and with the goal of increasing regional deterrence and reducing strategic response time, the Secretary of Defense shall—
(1)
prioritize Eastern Flank strategic defense partners under the War Reserve Stocks for Allies program administered under section 514 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h); and
(2)
consider expanding stockpiles under such program in additional Eastern Flank strategic defense partner countries, as appropriate.
Sec. 6. Congressional briefing
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the implementation of sections 3 and 4, including timelines, goals, and cooperative mechanisms.