HR 5543119th CongressIn Committee

Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025

Introduced: Sep 23, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-Missouri)

Defense & National Security

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025 would require the Secretary of State, working with the Secretary of Defense, to prepare a comprehensive report on emerging threats to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Due within 180 days of enactment, the report would cover military, cyber, hybrid, and political threats; identify the roles of Russia, Belarus, China, Iran, and other malign actors; assess the current US and NATO posture in the region; explore opportunities to deepen US–Baltic defense cooperation; and offer recommendations to strengthen deterrence, cybersecurity, and democratic resilience in the Baltic states. The report must be submitted in unclassified form, with a possible classified annex, and would be directed to specified congressional committees. The bill also states, as a matter of policy, that strengthening Baltic security serves US national security interests and supports ongoing security cooperation with NATO allies.

Key Points

1Short title: Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025.
2Sense of Congress: affirms that Baltic security is in US national security interests and supports continued US–Baltic security cooperation and strengthening ties, including countering economic pressure from China.
3Report mandate: within 180 days, the Secretary of State (with the Secretary of Defense) must prepare a report on emerging threats to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, covering military, cyber, hybrid, and political threats.
4Actors and threats: analysis of the roles of the Russian Federation, Belarus, China, Iran, and other malign actors in advancing threats.
5Contents and format: assessment of US/NATO posture in the region, opportunities for enhanced defense cooperation, and recommendations to strengthen deterrence, cybersecurity, and democratic resilience; the report must be unclassified with a possible classified annex.
6Congressional oversight: report to appropriate committees in both the House (Foreign Affairs, Armed Services) and the Senate (Foreign Relations, Armed Services).

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and their security posture; US and NATO strategic planning with respect to the Baltic region; U.S. foreign and defense policy toward these allies.Secondary group/area affected- United States policymakers and Congress (authorization and oversight), U.S. and NATO military planners, defense and security contractors involved in deterrence and resilience measures.Additional impacts- Potential influence on U.S. security cooperation programs, cyber defense initiatives, and resilience-building efforts in the Baltic region; possible alignment with broader strategies to counter China’s economic and strategic pressure and to deter adversaries in Europe; no new funding is authorized by the bill (it requires a report, not appropriations), so implementation would rely on existing resources.

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