
On Friday, the United States froze all foreign aid to several countries, including Ukraine, but Israel and Turkey were exempted.
An internal directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio was issued shortly after the president Donald TrumpAccording to AFP, the inauguration emphasized an “America first” approach to overseas aid.
“No new funds will be committed for new awards or extensions of existing awards until each proposed new award or extension has been reviewed and approved,” said an internal memo obtained by AFP. Go.”
According to the memo, the only exceptions were for emergency food and military funding for Israel and Egypt.
The comprehensive directive affects all types of aid, including development and military aid, particularly affecting Ukraine, which received substantial arms funding under the previous Biden administration while defending against Russian forces.
The suspension also halted US funding for PEPFAR, the HIV/AIDS program that provides antiretroviral treatment in developing countries, particularly in Africa.
Pfeffer, established in 2003 during the presidency of George W. Bush, has saved about 26 million lives and previously maintained broad bipartisan support in Washington.
The directive specifically excludes military aid to Israel, whose U.S. arms support has increased since the Gaza conflict, and Egypt, which has received substantial U.S. defense funding since the 1979 peace treaty with Israel. The grantee is the recipient.
Rubio included provisions for U.S. emergency food aid contributions, which have supported crisis-hit regions including Sudan and Syria.
Democratic lawmakers highlighted that PEPFAR supports more than 20 million people in need of the drug, while U.S.-funded antimalarial initiatives help 63 million people.