1 hr ago
US Redirects Military Aid From Europe, Middle East to Americas
The United States is moving some military-aid money to countries in the Americas.
About $52 million will be transferred from four countries in Europe and the Middle East.
The money will instead go to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
The US government says these countries need help fighting drug-related terrorism and protecting the Panama Canal.
It also says the Americas have not received enough military assistance in the past.
The administration wants to prevent countries such as China from gaining more influence in the region.
The four countries losing funding will still receive some military aid.
However, officials have not said exactly how much money they will have left.
The State Department notified Congress that $52 million in military financing would be reprogrammed.
Funds are being shifted from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
The administration said the money will combat narcoterrorism and help secure the Panama Canal.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Colombia, Ecuador and Peru last week and pledged additional support.
The department said Western Hemisphere priorities had been neglected and cited concerns about adversaries, including China, gaining strategic footholds.
- Who
- The Trump administration and State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are reallocating US military assistance.
- What
- The United States is reprogramming $52 million in foreign military financing from four countries to four countries in the Americas.
- Where
- Funds are being moved from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
- When
- The State Department notified Congress on Tuesday; Marco Rubio made the regional visit last week.
- Why
- The administration says the shift will combat narcoterrorism, help secure the Panama Canal and prevent adversaries from establishing strategic footholds in the Western Hemisphere.
Administration rationale
Concerns about the shift
Regional priorities
Administration rationale
The State Department says the Western Hemisphere has historically been neglected in US military assistance and that current funding should better match administration priorities.
Concerns about the shift
Military financing is being taken from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq, while the exact amounts remaining for those countries were not immediately clear.
Security strategy
Administration rationale
The administration says the new funding will combat narcoterrorism, secure the Panama Canal and prevent adversaries such as China from establishing strategic footholds.
Concerns about the shift
The reallocation reduces funding previously designated for countries in Europe and the Middle East, though the articles do not include statements from those governments opposing the change.
Key facts
- Amount reprogrammed
- $52 million
- Funding source countries
- Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq
- Funding recipient countries
- Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia
- Funding mechanism
- Foreign military financing lets recipients use US taxpayer dollars to purchase military equipment from American defense contractors.
- Stated security goals
- Combating narcoterrorism and helping secure the Panama Canal
- Administration priority
- The Western Hemisphere
- Remaining aid
- The shift does not eliminate military financing for Slovakia, Iraq, North Macedonia or Tunisia, but the remaining amounts were not immediately clear.
Quotes
US State Department
The US government department responsible for foreign policy and the aid reallocation.
“These funds will prevent adversaries from establishing strategic footholds in our hemisphere”
CNBC TV 18
“combat narcoterrorism in our backyard and help continue to secure the Panama Canal”
CNBC TV 18
Sources
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