The US has suspended foreign aid to several countries, including Ukraine, with exceptions for Israel and Turkey.
The United States has frozen all foreign aid to several countries, including Ukraine, as of Friday, with exemptions for Israel and Turkey.
An internal directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, issued shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, highlighted an “America First” approach to overseas assistance, according to AFP. The internal memo obtained by AFP states;
No new funds shall be obligated for new awards or extensions of existing awards until each proposed new award or extension has been reviewed and approved.
The memo indicated that exceptions were limited to emergency food aid and military funding for Israel and Egypt.
This sweeping directive affects various categories of assistance, including development and military aid. Notably, Ukraine, which had received significant weapons funding under the previous Biden administration during its defense against Russian forces, will be impacted.
The freeze also suspends U.S. funding for PEPFAR, the HIV/AIDS program that provides life-saving anti-retroviral treatments in developing nations, particularly across Africa.
PEPFAR, launched in 2003 during President George W. Bush’s administration, has saved approximately 26 million lives and has historically enjoyed strong bipartisan support in Washington.
The directive excludes military aid to Israel, whose U.S. arms support has increased following the Gaza conflict, and Egypt, which has received substantial U.S. defense funding since its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
Rubio’s order also allows for U.S. contributions to emergency food aid, which have supported regions in crisis, including Sudan and Syria.
Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns, noting that PEPFAR supports over 20 million individuals requiring HIV medication, while U.S.-funded anti-malaria initiatives benefit 63 million people.
Source: The Times of India
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