New Delhi: The newly inaugurated administration of Donald Trump in the United States has reportedly implemented a comprehensive freeze on all foreign aid, including assistance to Ukraine, with the sole exceptions being Israel and Egypt.
As the largest donor globally, the United States has not suspended emergency food and military funding for these two nations, as indicated by a report from the news agency AFP.
In an internal memorandum referenced in the report, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “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.”
This action aligns with President Trump’s commitment to an “America First” policy, which emphasizes stringent limitations on overseas assistance.
The directive is anticipated to impact a wide range of support, from development aid to military assistance, including that provided to Ukraine, which had received substantial military resources during the administration of Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, to counter the Russian invasion.
According to the AFP report, this directive also signifies a suspension of at least several months of U.S. funding for PEPFAR, the initiative aimed at combating HIV/AIDS that provides anti-retroviral medications in developing nations, primarily in Africa.
Established in 2003 under President George W. Bush, PEPFAR is credited with saving approximately 26 million lives and has historically enjoyed significant bipartisan support in Washington.
