I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5793 
To strengthen strategic defense cooperation between the United States and 
NATO allies on the Eastern Flank, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 17, 2025 
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. COHEN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Eastern Flank Stra-
tegic Partnership Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) The frontline North Atlantic Treaty Organi-
zation (NATO) allies of Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, 
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and 
Slovakia play a critical role in regional and trans-
atlantic security. 
(2) Those NATO allies have demonstrated con-
sistent commitments to NATO defense spending tar-
gets, 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 as-
sistance. 
(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 au-
thorities 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 arti-
cles under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act 
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of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j), and the War Reserve 
Stocks for Allies program administered under sec-
tion 514 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
U.S.C. 2321h), that can be used to enhance resil-
ience, logistics, and interoperability with those 
NATO allies. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives. 
(2) EASTERN
FLANK
STRATEGIC
DEFENSE 
PARTNER.—The term ‘‘Eastern Flank strategic de-
fense partner’’— 
(A) means a NATO member state that— 
(i) shares a border with, or is in di-
rect 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 geo-
graphic proximity to those countries; 
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(ii) has committed to allocating 5 per-
cent of its gross domestic product annually 
to defense by 2035, including at least 3.5 
percent for meeting core defense require-
ments and NATO capability targets and 
1.5 percent for other defense- and security- 
related investments; 
(iii) hosts or supports the forward de-
ployment of NATO military forces, includ-
ing rotational deployments; and 
(iv) faces persistent threats from hos-
tile 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 se-
curity; 
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(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 secu-
rity assistance necessary to deter Russian aggression 
against allies along NATO’s Eastern Flank. 
(b) PRIORITY.—The Secretary of State and the Sec-
retary of Defense shall, as appropriate and consistent with 
law, give priority to Eastern Flank strategic defense part-
ners for the following: 
(1) Assistance under the Foreign Military Fi-
nancing program under section 23 of the Arms Ex-
port 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. 
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(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—The policy established by 
subsection (a) and the priority established by subsection 
(b) shall be implemented to reinforce bilateral defense co-
operation arrangements, including defense cooperation 
agreements, status of forces agreements, and other bilat-
eral or multilateral agreements. 
SEC. 5. STOCKPILING AND PRE-POSITIONING OF DEFENSE 
ARTICLES. 
Consistent with operational requirements and in con-
sultation with NATO allies, and with the goal of increas-
ing 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 For-
eign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h); and 
(2) consider expanding stockpiles under such 
program in additional Eastern Flank strategic de-
fense partner countries, as appropriate. 
SEC. 6. CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Secretary of State, shall brief the appropriate 
congressional committees on the implementation of sec-
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tions 3 and 4, including timelines, goals, and cooperative 
mechanisms. 
Æ 
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