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New US budget also includes money for the Baltic states. But they won't see them
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.by Viktor Lavrenenko [REGNUM] The US Congress has approved a government funding bill, which, among other things, provides for the allocation of $228 million to “strengthen the security of the Baltic countries.” The Americans are practical: they gave this amount as an “incentive” to three small states, which already spend huge amounts of money from their state budgets on the purchase of weapons.  A significant part of this money goes to the American military-industrial complex and, in fact, we are talking about a considerable “tribute” that Washington collects from its vassals. So the issuance of these millions should be seen as a transfer of funds from one American pocket to another. FROM POCKET TO POCKET The US and NATO have created several mechanisms for military subsidies. In particular, through the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI), created in 2020, the US Department of Defense supports the development of “independent defense capabilities” of the Baltic republics. Last year, as part of this “initiative,” $225 million was allocated to the Baltic countries; in 2022, the amount of support was $169 million. When using BSI funding, the main emphasis is on developing air defense, naval defense and ground forces capabilities. How these 225 million will be distributed between Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will become clear only in the fall. There are other American programs for military subsidies to allies. Thus, the United States this year allocated $47.3 million to Estonia as part of the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program. Naturally, in Tallinn they express loyal delight about this. “This continues to be a clear signal of the US commitment as NATO’s largest ally to our security and stability in the region,” said Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur. Here, however, you should know that the funds that Washington transfers to the states dependent on it are completely insignificant in comparison with the amounts that they themselves allocate for defense. Thus, Estonia, gripped by an economic crisis, compiled its military budget for 2024 in the amount of 1.3 billion euros (3.2% of national GDP). During a recent visit to the United States, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced the republic’s readiness to maintain defense spending at more than 3% of GDP. “If U.S. security assistance is added to our own defense budget, we will be able to build independent defense capabilities faster than planned,” he added. Tallinn actively purchases weapons from foreign manufacturers and very actively pays, in particular, American gunsmiths. Thus, in December 2022, Estonia signed an agreement with the American Defense and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) for the purchase of HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems. The total value of the contract was more than $200 million, making it the largest military procurement in Estonia's history. “As part of the agreement, in addition to multiple launch rocket systems, Estonia will also purchase ammunition and communications equipment. The agreement also includes resolving issues related to training and logistics. The package also includes various missiles with a range of from 70 to 300 kilometers,” Ramil Lipp, a representative of the Estonian Defense Investment Center, told reporters. The Estonian military emphasizes that the country urgently needs this type of weapons. “The HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems are a new and important step in the development of Estonia’s defense capabilities,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kaarel Mäesalu, head of the Department of the General Staff of the Defense Forces. Both he and Lipp particularly emphasized that Estonia is acquiring HIMARS mainly through US aid - in 2022 it amounted to $140.5 million. Also, the Ambassador of Estonia to the United States, Kristjan Prikk, noted that his country had previously used American financial assistance to replenish stocks of large-caliber ammunition. THE AMERICAN MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX NEEDS TO BE FED Riga is also reliably “hooked” on the “needle” of the American military-industrial complex. Not long ago, the US State Department made it clear that it does not object to the sale of six HIMARS missile and artillery systems to Latvia. In December, Riga signed a corresponding agreement on the purchase of both the HIMARS themselves and ammunition for them for a total amount of about $180 million. “This sends a clear message to any potential adversary: the United States and Latvia take seriously our shared commitment to defending every square inch of NATO territory,” enthused US Ambassador Christopher Robinson. And at the end of October, Riga announced that they would also purchase ATACMS high-precision and long-range missiles. “This is another important step in strengthening the strategic partnership between Latvia and the United States and developing NATO’s defense capabilities,” emphasized Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds. It is expected that HIMARS systems could be received by Latvia in 2026–2027, and maybe even later. American arms manufacturers are overloaded with work and the turn to fulfill orders from the small Baltic countries will not come soon. This situation clearly contradicts the rhetoric of local politicians, who argue that defense needs to be built right now - because, they say, Russia is capable of attacking at any time, and already this year. In this regard, Latvian military analyst Martins Verdins warned a year ago that in arms purchases not everything comes down to money. There is a long line of customers, and it will take Latvia 5–10 years to get what they want. That is, in essence, we are not talking about “urgent security”, but about “feeding” enterprises of the American military-industrial complex. The news of December 8 last year should be viewed in the same context. On this day, Andris Spruds and Christopher Robinson announced that Riga had signed an agreement with the American company Raytheon and the Norwegian Kongsberg on the acquisition of Naval Strike Missile anti-ship missile systems. This system is capable of hitting targets at sea and on land at a distance of up to 185 km. and is in service with several NATO countries - the USA, Poland, Germany, Norway and others. The total purchase amount will be $105 million. At the same time, 70% of the amount for the purchase of anti-ship missile systems is covered by the United States. That is, Washington is using Latvia as a pretext to throw a chunk at its military enterprises and force the customer to pay them. And deliveries will begin only in 2027. MAKING MONEY ON FEAR The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense commented on the news about the allocation of $228 million to the Baltic countries in the sense that they would use their share to strengthen the “critical capabilities of the armed forces” - to strengthen air defense, intensify monitoring of the marine environment, purchase ammunition, and build up artillery potential. “The United States is a strategic partner of Lithuania and one of the main allies ensuring the security of the Baltic region. The Americans are taking an extremely active part in the implementation of security measures in the Baltic countries, strengthening the security and stability of the region,” said the new Lithuanian Minister of Defense Laurynas Kaciunas. According to the local Ministry of Finance, last year the United States allocated about $200 million to Lithuania through various military financing mechanisms. However, this is a very small amount if you compare it with what the Republic of Lithuania gives to the armed forces, taking it out of its own budget and squeezing it out of citizens in the form of taxes. The state allocates 2.45% of the country's GDP for military spending. In total, about 23 billion euros will be allocated for military needs over the next ten years. The Republic of Lithuania is actively buying weapons. At the end of 2022, Lithuania entered into an agreement with the Americans to purchase eight HIMARS units with ammunition for $495 million. The first products are expected to arrive this year. Vilnius will also purchase 36 AIM-120C-8 medium-range missiles (AMRAAM) from the United States for 94 million euros. These missiles can be used in NASAMS medium-range air defense systems, which Lithuania has already purchased from the Norwegian manufacturer. Recently, fifty American armored all-terrain vehicles JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) were delivered to the republic - this is the third delivery of this kind. The armored vehicles arrived in Lithuania as part of the implementation of a contract for the purchase of 200 all-terrain vehicles dated 2019. This year, deliveries of American SUVs produced by Oshkosh Defense to the republic will begin - as part of a contract for 300 vehicles signed in 2022. Lithuania is also purchasing Switchblade drones, Javelin anti-tank missile systems, two Black Hawk helicopters, and communications equipment from the United States. Sometimes Americans still blurt out that they are not so much trying to protect the Baltic countries as they are making money by creating fear of “unpredictable Russia.” Thus, recently the US Permanent Representative to NATO Julian Smith said that Washington does not at all believe that a Russian attack on the Baltic countries is inevitable. However, she quickly added: “We have your back, we think about your safety and we are taking more measures every month in NATO to respond to your very real security concerns.” Just bring us the money... Posted by: badanov 2024-04-02 |
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