Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Eastern Flank Strategic Partnership Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Eastern Flank Strategic Partnership Act of 2025 aims to strengthen defense cooperation between the United States and specific NATO allies on the Eastern Flank. It identifies Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia as strategic defense partners. The bill directs the U.S. to prioritize these partners for security assistance, military financing, and the transfer of defense articles. It also focuses on increasing regional deterrence through the stockpiling and pre-positioning of defense articles. Additionally, the act emphasizes continued support for Ukraine to deter Russian aggression.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +9
Does this strengthen ties with allied countries?
Specifically designed to strengthen ties and cooperation with NATO allies on the Eastern Flank.
- Scored +7
Does this send more money or help to other countries?
The bill prioritizes foreign military financing and security assistance for Eastern Flank partners.
- Scored +6
Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad?
Increases strategic coordination and bilateral defense cooperation arrangements.
The opposite· 3 of 4
- Scored -5
Does this reduce what is spent on the military?
The bill encourages increased military spending through security assistance and stockpiling.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
Increased security assistance and stockpiling of defense articles likely increase government spending.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill directs the prioritization of funds for military financing and security assistance.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Regional Security: By prioritizing cooperation and security assistance for Eastern Flank strategic defense partners, the bill aims to deter aggression from hostile state actors and advance transatlantic security (Section 4(a)).
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Enhanced Defense Capabilities: The bill gives priority to specific allies for the Foreign Military Financing program, capacity building for security forces, and the transfer of excess defense articles (Section 4(b)).
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Faster Strategic Response: The Secretary of Defense is tasked with prioritizing and potentially expanding stockpiles of defense articles under the War Reserve Stocks for Allies program to reduce strategic response time and increase deterrence (Section 5).
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Support for Ukraine: The policy explicitly includes supporting Ukraine with necessary security assistance to deter Russian aggression against NATO allies (Section 4(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- High Financial Commitments for Allies: To be considered an Eastern Flank strategic defense partner, a country must commit to allocating 5 percent of its gross domestic product annually to defense by 2035 (Section 3(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — Specifically designed to strengthen ties and cooperation with NATO allies on the Eastern Flank. Does this send more money or help to other countries? — The bill prioritizes foreign military financing and security assistance for Eastern Flank partners. Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad? — Increases strategic coordination and bilateral defense cooperation arrangements. Does this reduce what is spent on the military? — The bill encourages increased military spending through security assistance and stockpiling.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill directs the prioritization of funds for military financing and security assistance. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — Increased security assistance and stockpiling of defense articles likely increase government spending. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Prioritizing foreign military financing increases spending commitments.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires the Secretary of Defense to brief congressional committees on implementation. Does this give the federal government more power? — Expands the role of the Secretary of State and Defense in prioritizing foreign military assistance.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Increased defense spending typically benefits defense contractors and related industries.
- 10/7/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/19/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire