Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC)

Washington, DC
Joined March 2009
JBANC Statement on Congressional Passage of BSI and FMF Funding The Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) welcomes the passage on February 3 of the final Defense Appropriations bill, which provides $200 million in funding for the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI), as well as the final State and Foreign Operations bill, which allocates $10 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to each Baltic state. The BSI strengthens the defensive capabilities of the Baltic states by facilitating the transfer of U.S. defense articles to the region. The Baltic states have demonstrated their own commitment to security by spending over five percent of GDP on defense and by providing matching funds for defense articles procured through the BSI. JBANC thanks our champions in the United States Congress, including the leadership of the House Baltic Caucus—Representatives Don Bacon and Salud Carbajal—as well as members of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, including Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Chuck Grassley. We also extend our gratitude to Representatives Austin Scott and Wesley Bell for speaking on the House floor in support of the BSI. Finally, we thank all of our grassroots advocates who traveled to Washington, participated in virtual meetings, or wrote letters to their congressional offices. Advocacy is not possible without the strength and dedication of our Baltic American communities.
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Ukraine has retaken more than 50% of Russian-occupied territory and has become a drone superpower. Unable to defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, Putin is now increasingly targeting the country's civilian population, @RLHeinrichs explains.
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Seven bipartisan lawmakers, Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Christopher Coons, Sheldon Whitehouse, Thom Tillis, and Congressman Gregory Meeks, have issued a warning to U.S. banks, fuel distributors, and port authorities that (1/2)
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JBANC Baltics retweeted
A clear case for why Russian ex-combatants should have no place in the Schengen area. We cannot expect respect for the law or good intentions from those who took part in Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.
Russia is preparing for war in Europe, and they continue to be issued visas. Spanish police have arrested a former Russian soldier after discovering an illegal weapons operation in Catalonia, near the French border. Investigators uncovered a concealed workshop inside a rented warehouse in Figueres, approximately 25 kilometers from France. The facility contained 644 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, silencers and weapons components. The seized arsenal is estimated to be worth €5 million.
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🚨 Time is of the essence. Call your members of Congress today. Urge them to use every available legislative and oversight mechanism to reverse U.S. policies that undermine Ukraine’s and America’s security and reward Putin’s war. Take action here ➡️ razomforukraine.quorum.us/ca…
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JBANC Baltics retweeted
Finland and Norway have "frank" call with Putin on Ukraine. Russia hits bridge and subway in Kyiv, kills one. Melania-brokered ceasefire begins. Don Jr.'s Mongolian hunting trip with a Russian oligarch. Death threats, lawsuits and billions in play to move sanctioned Russian oil. Mobile internet to be restricted in Moscow during upcoming Russia-Africa summit. Romania president says Russian sabotage plot "grave violation" of NATO security. Two British men charged over Fairford incident. Israel votes. Hezbollah prepares for new war with Iranian funds.
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There is a massive corruption scandal unfolding in the US, with top American executives abandoning a $25 billion gas project over allegations of secret Russian investment and control. ​All of this is happening just as the US administration moves to ease sanctions on Russia. ​It is exactly what it looks like: blatant corruption. An attempt to sell out Ukraine in exchange for lucrative deals out of pure greed. Meanwhile, it is Ukraine that continues to endure constant, baseless accusations supported by nothing. Madness.
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Your country is the invader who initiated this war. Your country bombs cities to terrorize civilians and you torture POWs. We have utter contempt for you and Putin, the actual warmongers.
Elon exposes the LIES OF WARMONGERS: That said, I have nothing but UTTER CONTEMPT for the virtue-signaling evil warmongers who push for endless slaughter and offer no realistic solution to the conflict. May you burn in hell. Honesty & realistic solutions are required for peace🕊️
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JBANC Baltics retweeted
In April 2025, @AtlanticCouncil published pieces about pro-democracy movements in Hungary, Serbia, Georgia, & Turkey. The point was that the future may not belong to nationalist authoritarians, as is often feared. Since then, pro-democracy forces have won elections in Hungary and, tonight, in Serbia. @ACEurope @NEDemocracy atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ne…
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A special evening of solidarity with our friends at the Ukrainian American Sport Center in North Wales, standing alongside our Ukrainian-American community in support of the Ukrainian people and their fight for freedom. This week, I introduced the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act to ensure not a single drop of Russian oil enters the United States while Putin continues his war against Ukraine, and to safeguard critical U.S. intelligence support for Ukraine. We cannot stand with Ukraine and bankroll Putin’s war. We cannot seek peace while subsidizing aggression. Peace through strength means ensuring tyranny never pays. My heartfelt thanks to our friends at Tryzub for bringing us together, for their steadfast partnership, and for all they do to strengthen and enrich our community. Together, we will continue standing with the people of Ukraine, defending their freedom and sovereignty, and working toward a just and lasting peace. 🇺🇸🇺🇦
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JBANC Baltics retweeted
Zelenskyy: "... we have been waiting for nearly a month for Mr. Hegseth to sign off on missiles for Patriots and NASAMS. I instructed our team to raise this with the American side once again."
I held a coordination call on the situation with weapons supplies from our partners and efforts to restore energy infrastructure following Russian strikes. Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi reported on the work underway in the regions. I thank every repair crew and all energy companies that are fully carrying out their assigned tasks. The work is continuing virtually nonstop, and we are using the equipment reserves we have built up. I expect the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy, and other agencies involved to communicate in a timely and sufficient manner the need to replenish these reserves. The Minister of Defense of Ukraine, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs reported on the supply of air defense interceptors to Ukraine, first and foremost Patriot missiles. We are working on several tracks – with the United States, Europe, and other partners that have stocks of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles. In particular, we have been waiting for nearly a month for Mr. Hegseth to sign off on missiles for Patriots and NASAMS. I instructed our team to raise this with the American side once again. Conversations with other countries are also ongoing. We also discussed preparations for the November Ramstein meeting. It is important to speed up the implementation of decisions that have been on the table for some time. Every support package is an opportunity to protect people's lives. Thank you to everyone who is providing real support and, in particular, helping speed up these critically important deliveries.
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No, @elonmusk, the U.S. stopped funding Ukraine last year. In fact, U.S. companies make money on American weapons for which we Europeans pay. The more you meddle in our politics and the more you play politics with your products, the more you damage your brand.
Replying to @elonmusk
And some of that US taxpayer money comes back through multiple laundry machines to fund political campaigns in America, which is why you see some politicians caring more about Ukraine than America!
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JBANC Baltics retweeted
Nearly 4, 000 Russian bombs, missiles and drones launched against Ukraine in just one week. Even as diplomatic efforts continue, Russia keeps striking Ukrainian homes, energy infrastructure and even the rescuers who come to help. Putin is showing no willingness to end his aggression. We must increase pressure on Russia and strengthen Ukraine's air defence. Military support for Ukraine must not slow down.
This past week alone, Russia has launched around 1,600 guided aerial bombs, 48 missiles of various types, including ballistic missiles, and nearly 2,300 attack drones against Ukraine. Unfortunately, almost every day, these brutal strikes leave people killed and injured. In the evening, Russian strikes on the Dnipro region killed four people. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Another 22 people were injured, including an 11-year-old girl. In Vinnytsia, a Russian drone struck a high-rise apartment building. Six people were injured. In Kharkiv, the Russians first struck a home improvement hypermarket and then carried out a cynical double-tap strike on the emergency services that arrived at the scene. First responders were injured. There were also strikes overnight on a thermal power plant, substations, coal mines, grain storage facilities, shopping malls, and a postal logistics hub. Damage has been reported in nine regions. This is how Russia responds to diplomacy and deisolation. And it is very important that support for those who protect lives not diminish alongside the negotiation process. We need to unblock the deliveries of Patriot interceptors already approved by European countries. We need to continue supporting Ukrainian combat aviation to defend against jet-powered “shaheds.” Every such defense package, especially ahead of winter, helps save lives. I thank all partners who provide this kind of support.
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This is incredible journalism. Kristen Welker just earned so much of my respect.
This is how you challenge russian propaganda. Stay calm while they lie and deflect, and keep stating the facts. Brilliant.
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Ambassador Argyros traveled to Valmiera, a regional hub for industry, innovation, and sports, to learn more about the city and its people. The Ambassador met with Mayor Jānis Baiks, thanking him for Valmiera’s longstanding partnership with the U.S. Embassy and its warm welcome to American #Fulbright participants. She also enjoyed the natural beauty of Skaņaiskalns Nature Park and visited the BMX Olympic Sports Complex, which honors two-time Olympic gold medalist and Latvian-American Māris Štrombergs. Strong U.S.-Latvian ties extend well beyond our capitals! 🇱🇻🇺🇸 #USLatvia #Valmiera #ExchangeOurWorld
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JBANC Baltics retweeted
One of the reasons the Trump administration argued it needed greater cooperation with Denmark/Greenland was to ensure non-NATO nations (Russia and China) do not grow their presence so close to American shores.
Russia would apparently get a stake in Alaska gas venture through this deal which @FT reports was discussed during recent meeting to discuss Ukraine at the Kremlin.
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The daughter of a key Russian Shahed drone producer is reportedly living comfortably in Toronto, having attended Humber Polytechnic and now working as an online influencer. Canada must sanction him and investigate her status. newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/osin…
While Russian drones strike Ukraine, the daughter of a Russian drone executive lives her best life in Toronto. 🧵 1/11 ⬇️
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