H.R. 5793

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5793 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 
concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

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 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 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 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.
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