FORTIFY Act

This legislation, titled the "Facilitating Operational Readiness Through Inter-Baltics Flexibility Act" or "FORTIFY Act," aims to bolster the defense capabilities of the Baltic states against potential Russian aggression. Congress believes that allowing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to freely transfer United States defense articles and services among themselves, coupled with appropriate training, would significantly complicate Russian planning and enhance regional deterrence at no additional cost. To achieve this, the bill exempts retransfers of U.S. defense articles and services among the Baltic states from the requirement for prior Presidential consent, overriding provisions in the Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Assistance Act. It also mandates that existing agreements be modified to remove this consent requirement for inter-Baltic transfers. Furthermore, the Secretary of Defense is directed to establish a common coalition key among these nations to facilitate the sharing of ammunition for both training and operational purposes, thereby improving their collective operational readiness.